Rising West Indies star Carlos Brathwaite
Dubai - We are trying to cement ourselves as the world's No.1 team, Brathwaite said
Published: Fri 16 Sep 2016, 9:05 PM
Last updated: Mon 19 Sep 2016, 3:01 PM
It is but ironic that for a man who is still taking baby steps in his career, he has already taken a giant leap.
The cricketing world came to know of a certain Carlos Brathwaite, especially after what transpired at the majestic Eden Gardens in Kolkata on that starry night in April. England all-rounder Ben Stokes would grudgingly attest to Brathwaite's pyrotechnics after the man from Barbados left the Three Lions battered and bruised.
Four months on, Brathwaite was duly rewarded as the West Indies elevated him to the T20 captaincy. And after that jig against the Indians in the Florida sunshine, the 28-year-old is preparing to lead his side from the front in the desert heat of Dubai and Abu Dhabi against Pakistan.
Brathwaite is just 10 matches into his T20 career but he is already thinking big in his second series in charge as captain. The West Indies are the World Twenty20 champions and Brathwaite is now planning an assault to vault his side to No.1 in the world T20 rankings.
"Excited," Brathwaite said on Friday, when asked about his thoughts on the tour and leading the team.
"We are coming off the series win against India. We are trying to cement ourselves as the world's No.1 team. The rankings don't show it yet, but that is our aim coming over here, to defend what we think is our title as the world's No.1 T20 team, and we will be giving our 100 per cent," he added.
The West Indies are ranked third behind New Zealand and India in the latest T20 rankings.
With a gruelling tour and testing weather conditions staring them in the face, the West Indies squad made the sensible decision to arrive much earlier than expected to get acclimatised to the energy-sapping heat as well as the pitches they will come up against.
The West Indies face-off against Pakistan over three Twenty20 Internationals, three One Day Internationals as well as three Tests, which also includes the first day-night Test in the UAE.
Having recovered from the jet lag following their long haul journey from the Caribbean, the squad got down to business with a practice session at the ICC Cricket Academy on Friday morning. After warming up with some light work outs at the impressive indoor facilities of the ICC Cricket Academy, the squad trooped out in the searing afternoon heat, to partake in a few exercises as well as a football game followed by a net session. Friday was more about getting a feel of things and one can expect the intensity to pick up over the next couple of days.
The West Indies T20 squad had also made use of the facilities at the ICC Cricket Academy to prepare for the World Twenty20 in India. And Brathwaite was pleased with the facilities and was delighted to be back here.
"I have been here at the ICC Academy before, memorably before the World Twenty20 when we had a very important camp. There are a lot of well-prepared pitches, outdoor and a few indoor nets as well here, and two fields you can use side by side, and for the coaches that gives them options, and for the players that gives you options, because some guys prefer nets, and even if you want to go indoors and tweak something with the coach and the bowling machine that is possible as well," said Brathwaite.
Philip Spooner, the West Indies Media Manager, said that the squad was trying to take advantage of coming in early even before the hosts Pakistan were due to arrive.
"We have come here early to acclimatise and just get used to the conditions and get ready. Obviously, it is a lot hotter here than it is back in the Caribbean so it will take a while for us to get used to that. So, I guess a few extra days would help to get used to the conditions," said Spooner.
"We are the world champions now and the aim is to win obviously against Pakistan and just keep that momentum going in terms of the T20 format. So, these few extra days will definitely help us. Obviously, there are fantastic facilities here and couldn't ask for better. And I can really see that the guys are enjoying the way they are going about it. They obviously want to express themselves freely," he added.
The squad will continue to train on Saturday morning with Sunday's evening session under lights yet to be confirmed. They will then undergo a late afternoon session on Monday before playing a warm-up T20 game against an Emirates Cricket Board (ECB) XI at the ICC Cricket Academy on September 20. james@khaleejtimes.com
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