Rovman Powell: South Africa T20 series part of World Cup prep

PORT OF SPAIN: West Indies T20 captain Rovman Powell believes that the three-match T20 series against South Africa will serve as the perfect launchpad in the regional side’s build up to the 2026 T20 World Cup.

The West Indies take on South Africa in the first of three T20s on August 23 at the Brian Lara Cricket Academy.

With veterans Andre Russell and Jason Holder being rested for the series, several other players have been drafted into the 15-man squad, including Fabien Allen, Alick Athanaze and Matthew Forde.

Speaking ahead of the first T20 which bowls off at 3 pm, Powell said the trio could be key players for the Windies in 2026.

“It’s also another opportunity for us to see other players. You know Alick Athanaze, Fabien Allen, Matthew Forde are three of those players that we have identified, and it is for them to be given the opportunity and hopefully once they are given the opportunity, they can grasp it with both hands,” Powell said.

“…So this is a building block for 2026. I know 2026 might seem a long way away, but it’s for us to play good cricket, series by series.”

With the West Indies now ranked fourth in the ICC T20 rankings, he said the series was important in helping the team to “get back on track” following their Super Eight elimination in the recently concluded T20 World Cup.

It will be the first international series for West Indies since that exit, and Powell said it was imperative to return to winning ways.

“I think the chemistry is very good. You know it's the first series post-World Cup and it’s an important one in the sense that we have to get back on track as a T20 team and I think so far, so good.

“…Gone are the days when you used to play series for playing series sake. You use these series as building blocks, and nothing is more important than winning,” Powell maintained.

“Once you win games you improve your ranking in the ICC standings and also guys become more familiar with their roles and guys become more encouraged to play for the West Indies because the atmosphere, the environment is a winning one and people want to associate themselves with winners.”

Powell admitted that even though the team was disappointed with their performance at home in the T20 World Cup, he believed they showed they could compete at the highest level.

“I think we played good cricket. We had a clean slate right through the preliminary stage and we faltered when we reached the quarterfinal stage,” he said.

“But having said that, I think that it shows that we are a quality unit, it shows that if we prepare well and if we have the right plans, we can be successful at the international level.” CMC