On March 31, Cricket West Indies (CWI) made a significant decision to replace Rovman Powell as the captain of the West Indies T20I team, appointing ODI skipper Shai Hope as his successor. This move came as part of a broader leadership transition, which also saw Test captain Kraigg Brathwaite vacating his position. According to CWI Director of Cricket Miles Bascombe, the decision to install Hope as T20I captain was made following the advice of head coach Daren Sammy. The board emphasized that Powell’s tenure had laid a strong foundation for the team’s recent successes and that Hope’s appointment marked a ‘progressive shift’ in West Indies cricket.
Rovman Powell’s impact as T20I captain
Powell was appointed as West Indies’ T20I captain in May 2023 at a time when the team was struggling, ranked ninth in the ICC T20I rankings. Under his leadership, West Indies saw a resurgence, climbing to third place in the global rankings. During his tenure, the team registered home series victories against cricketing powerhouses such as India, England and South Africa. Powell also led the team in the ICC Men’s T20 World Cup, further cementing his role as an influential leader in the West Indies setup. Statistically, Powell captained the team in 37 T20I matches, securing 19 wins and suffering 17 losses, with one match ending without a result. His leadership was widely appreciated for bringing stability and competitiveness back to West Indies cricket.
Also READ: Deandra Dottin ruled out as West Indies announces squad for ICC Women’s Cricket World Cup Qualifier 2025
Dwayne Bravo’s strong criticism of Cricket West Indies
Former West Indies all-rounder and two-time T20 World Cup winner Dwayne Bravo was vocal in his criticism of CWI’s decision to replace Powell. Bravo, who is currently associated with the Indian Premier League (IPL) franchise Kolkata Knight Riders (KKR) as a bowling coach, took to social media to express his displeasure. He accused the board of perpetuating a pattern of unfair treatment towards players, stating that Powell had revived West Indies’ T20 team and deserved better recognition for his contributions.
“@windiescricket once again you guys prove to the people of the Caribbean and the cricket world that the injustices towards players continues! As a former player and a fan of WI cricket this is easily one of the worst decisions ever,” Bravo’s Instagram post reads.
He further questioned the rationale behind the move, highlighting Powell’s success in elevating the team from ninth to third in the T20I rankings.
“@ravipowell52 taking over captaincy when our T20 team was in 9th spot and was able to move up to 3rd sport in the rankings and this is how you guys repay him the bad treatment towards players when would it Stop! this is so sad on all levels. Make it make sense! SMH,” Bravo concluded.
