Grenada will take centre stage in regional cricket as the West Indies Women’s team arrives for their highly anticipated home series against Sri Lanka Women.
The moment will be even more special with the return of Grenadian stalwart Afy Fletcher in Maroon. A proud product of La Fillette, St Andrew, the experienced leg-spinner will represent the West Indies on home soil for just the second time in her career.
This series presents a unique opportunity for Grenadians to see one of their own, and Cricket West Indies is encouraging full support from the Grenadian public, schools, cricket clubs and the wider sporting community to create a vibrant atmosphere for the home team.
Over the years, the 38-year-old Fletcher has become a cornerstone of West Indies’ bowling attack, representing the region at multiple ICC World Cups and global tournaments including the team’s T20 World Cup triumph in 2016.
Even after taking a step back from international duties 5 years ago after the birth of her son Audee, Fletcher subsequently returned to the side and to form, gracefully showing the world the beauty of balancing motherhood and professional sport.
More recently, she was named in the Team of the Tournament of the 2024 Women’s T20 World Cup and celebrated the capture of her 100th ODI wicket against Thailand last April in Pakistan.
While her record in that format currently stands at 111 wickets from 89 appearances, she is one away from a century of T20 appearances and four shy of 100 T20 wickets. Those accolades alone make her one of the greatest international cricketers, male or female, from the Spice Isle.
Ahead of the series, Fletcher shared her delight at the opportunity to represent the region once again. “I’m proud to be selected again and it’s even more satisfying to be playing in Grenada, in front of my home crowd. There’s something truly special about representing West Indies on the world stage, but doing it here, on the soil that raised me, surrounded by the people who have supported me from the very beginning, means everything,” she expressed. “I want every little girl and boy across Grenada watching these matches to see that dreams are possible, no matter where you come from. This series isn’t just about runs and wickets, but also showing the next generation that Grenada produces champions.”
Minister of Sport Hon. Delma Thomas described the series as a homecoming and a celebration of Grenadian excellence on the world stage. “This series is particularly special because it brings home one of our own daughters. Afy is not merely representing the West Indies, but every young person from La Fillette, St Andrew, and every community across our tri-island state who dares to dream,” she said. “Her presence on the field, wearing maroon in front of her family, friends and loved ones, is the most powerful statement we could ever make about the heights Grenadians can reach through dedication and resilience.” “I extend my deepest gratitude to Cricket West Indies for selecting Grenada for this crucial series, and I also welcome our visitors from Sri Lanka and wish them a competitive and enjoyable tour and stay.”
The upcoming matches promise exciting, competitive cricket as the Maroon Warriors match wits against a strong Sri Lankan unit.
CWC
