West Indies cricket has bid farewell to four of its prominent women cricketers, Anisa Mohammed, Shakera Selman, Kycia Knight, and Kyshona Knight, who have announced their retirements from international cricket. All four players were part of the West Indies team that clinched the T20 World Cup title in 2016.
Anisa Mohammed, a seasoned offspinner, made her ODI debut at the young age of 15 in 2003. She leaves the game as the leading wicket-taker for West Indies in both ODIs and T20Is, with 180 wickets in 141 ODIs and 125 wickets in 117 T20Is. Known for her exceptional performance, Mohammed was the first cricketer, male or female, to reach the milestone of 100 T20I wickets. Her illustrious career spanned five ODI World Cups and seven T20 World Cups, with her last appearance in March 2022 during the ODI World Cup semi-final against Australia.
Reflecting on her retirement, Mohammed expressed gratitude for her 20-year career, stating, “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.”
Shakera Selman, a medium-pacer, made her international debut in 2008 and has since contributed significantly to the team’s success. With 82 wickets in 100 ODIs and 51 wickets in 96 T20Is, Selman’s impact on the field has been noteworthy. Her last appearance for West Indies was in February 2023 during the T20 World Cup in South Africa.
Sharing her thoughts on retirement, Selman said, “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, Kycia and Kyshona, who made their debuts in 2011 and 2013 respectively, have also decided to retire from international cricket. Kycia, a wicketkeeper-batter, amassed 1327 runs in 87 ODIs and 801 runs in 70 T20Is. Kyshona, a middle-order batter, scored 851 runs in 51 ODIs and 546 runs in 55 T20Is. Their last appearance for West Indies was in December 2022 during a T20I against England in Bridgetown.
In a joint statement, the Knight twins expressed their gratitude, saying, “As this marks the end of an enjoyable and amazing journey, we would like to take this time to thank our family, friends, team-mates, and supporters for the continued love and support throughout the years.”
The retirement of these four stalwarts marks the end of an era in West Indies women’s cricket, leaving behind a legacy that will be remembered and celebrated for years to come.
Article Source: ESPNcricinfo
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