The cricketing world was taken by surprise as four seasoned players from the West Indies women’s team, integral to their T20 World Cup victory in 2016, have announced their retirements from international cricket. Anisa Mohammed, Shakera Selman, and the Knight twins—Kycia and Kyshona—have all decided to hang up their boots, leaving a significant void in the Caribbean lineup just months before the commencement of the Women’s Cricket T20 World Cup set to take place this September-October in Bangladesh.
Anisa Mohammed, the legendary off-spinner, who began her international career at the tender age of 15 in 2003, retires as the leading wicket-taker for the West Indies in One Day Internationals (ODIs) and T20 Internationals (T20Is). Her accomplishments are nothing short of extraordinary; she became the first player, regardless of gender, from the West Indies to claim 100 wickets in T20Is, and also the first female cricketer from the islands to achieve a hat-trick. Over an illustrious 21-year career, Mohammed has scalped 180 wickets in 141 ODIs and 125 wickets in 117 T20I matches, participating in an impressive 12 World Cup events (5 ODIs and 7 T20 WCs) representing the West Indies.
Reflecting on her remarkable journey, Mohammed said, “The last 20 years have been truly amazing, I have enjoyed every single minute of it. The highs and the lows. I believe the time has come for me to step away from the game and allow the young players to live their dreams as I have lived mine. I was privileged enough to step onto the field wearing my maroon 258 times in my career.”
Shakera Selman, the adept medium pace bowler who began playing internationally in 2008, also concluded her journey with the team. In her tenure, she played in 100 ODIs and 96 T20Is, taking 82 and 51 wickets respectively. Selman expressed her gratitude for the experiences she’s had, stating, “I am proud of playing with and against legends, and lucky to have dismissed a few. My aim was always to inspire and assist others in their dreams. As I transition to the next phase of my career, I look forward to continuing to share my passion for the game in new ways.”
The Knight twins, meanwhile, are both just a month shy of their 32nd birthday. Kycia and Kyshona made their international debut in 2011 and 2013, respectively. The sisters played a considerable number of matches for the West Indies; the wicketkeeper batter Kycia played in 87 ODIs and 70 T20Is, while Kyshona featured in 51 ODIs and 55 T20Is. Together, they issued a heartfelt statement, saying, “As this marks the end of an enjoyable and amazing journey, we would like to take this time to thank our family, friends, teammates and supporters for the continued love and support throughout the years. None of this would have been possible without the support and love from you guys and for that, we are forever grateful. Lastly, thank you to CWI for the opportunities granted and memories that will be forever cherished.”
Their retirement marks the end of an era for West Indies women’s cricket, as these four athletes have greatly contributed to the strength and success of the team over the years. Their legacy will be a tough act to follow, but also a shining example for the younger generation of cricketers.
As the West Indies women’s team prepares for their upcoming T20 World Cup campaign without these experienced players, it presents a challenging yet exciting opportunity for new talent to emerge and fill their sizable shoes. The four players have not only left a mark on the statistics boards but also on the hearts of their fans and teammates, inspiring countless young cricketers in the Caribbean and around the world to dream big and achieve greater.
