Alick Athanaze to captain Team Weekes

Alick Athanaze, Dominica's up-and-coming star batsman, will captain one of the teams in the upcoming Headley Weekes Tri-Series, Cricket West Indies Senor Team selectors have announced.

Team Headley – named in honour of George Headley – will be captained by Joshua Da Silva, the wicket-keeper-batter. Team Weekes – named in honour of Sir Everton Weekes – will be led by Alick Athanaze, the left-handed top-order batter.

The two teams have been drawn from the leading performers in the 2023 West Indies Championship and those deemed to be on the fringe of the Test team. As a result, Shai Hope was selected but was permitted to represent Yorkshire in the English County Championship. At the same time, Rahkeem Cornwall and Shane Dowrich made themselves unavailable for selection.

Additionally, CWI named the teams to provide further first-class opportunities to the best performers from the West Indies Championship in a competitive and intense setting, as well as opportunities for players who the selectors believe would benefit from playing red-ball cricket as West Indies prepare for the upcoming "A" Team tour of Bangladesh and the two-Test Series against India at home.

Team Headley and Team Weekes will play against each other and the West Indies Academy in the three-match series running from April 19 to May 6 at the Coolidge Cricket Ground (CCG) in Antigua. All three matches have been awarded first-class status. The West Indies Academy was unveiled last year and played CG United Super50 tournament last November.

Team Weekes will feature Athanaze, the leading batter in the West Indies Championship with 647 runs, which included two centuries; left-arm spinner Veerasammy Permaul the second-highest wicket-taker with 28 wickets; as well as Jahmar Hamilton, who was the joint leading keeper with 19 dismissals.

Team Headley will feature experienced left-hander Darren Bravo, who was the second-highest run-scorer in the West Indies Championship with 446 runs which included two centuries; fast bowler Akeem Jordan who was the third-highest wicket-taker with 22 wickets in four matches; as well as Tevyn Walcott, who was the joint leading keeper with 19 dismissals.

Lead Selector, Desmond Haynes, said: "Following the conclusion of the West Indies Championship, we are pleased to have more first-class matches on the calendar. This initiative will give our players more opportunities as we look ahead to the very important Test Series against India later in the year and 'A' Team matches. We looked at everyone available and came up with teams who will be very competitive and push each other."

All matches in the Headley Weekes Tri-Series will be streamed LIVE on the Windies Cricket YouTube channel with live scorecards and ball-by-ball scoring on the Windiescricket.com live match centre. FULL SQUADS:

Team Headley: Joshua Da Silva (captain), Sunil Ambris, Darren Bravo, Justin Greaves, Kavem Hodge, Chaim Holder, Akeem Jordan, Marquino Mindley, Shayne Moseley, Gudakesh Motie, Anderson Phillip, Kieran Powell and Tevyn Walcott.

Team Weekes: Alick Athanaze (captain), Tagenarine Chanderpaul, Keacy Carty, Dominic Drakes, Jahmar Hamilton, Brandon King, Jair McAllister, Zachary McCaskie, Veerasammy Permaul, Raymon Reifer, Kevin Sinclair, Nial Smith and Devon Thomas.

West Indies Academy: Kevlon Anderson, Ackeem Auguste, Joshua Bishop, Teddy Bishop, McKenny Clarke, Rivaldo Clarke, Joshua James, Johann Layne, Kirk McKenzie, Ashmead Nedd, Kelvin Pitman, Keagan Simmons, Ramon Simmonds, Kevin Wickham and Nyeem Young.