ST JOHN’S, Antigua, CMC – Cricket West Indies have hailed Anisa Mohammed, Shakera Selman, and the Knight twins, Kycia and Kyshona, for their “dedication, skill, and sportsmanship” after they formally announced their international retirements from the sport on Thursday.
The quartet were staunch members of the West Indies Women’s team over the past decade and helped them to win the 2016 ICC Women’s Twenty20 Cricket World Cup in India.
“Anisa, Shakera, Kycia, and Kyshona have all made significant individual impacts on women’s cricket, West Indies, and the world,” CWI director of cricket, Miles Bascombe said.
“Their dedication, skill, and sportsmanship have not only elevated our team, but also captivated cricket fans worldwide.
“Their legacies, as members of the title-winning ICC Women’s T20 World Cup squad of 2016 and individual milestones will continue to influence and guide future generations to aspire to wear the maroon.”
Mohammed, an off-spinner from Trinidad & Tobago, leaves the international stage as the most successful bowler for West Indies Women’s in One-day and Twenty20 Internationals after she made her debut 21 years ago as a precocious 15-year-old against Japan Women in an ICC Women’s Cricket World Cup qualifier in the Netherlands.
She bagged 180 wickets in 141 ODIs with a career-best of seven for 14 against Pakistan and captured 125 wickets in 117 T20Is, becoming the first player (male or female) to take 100 T20I wickets.
She also has the distinction of being the first West Indies Women’s bowler to take a hat-trick in a T20I.
“The last 20 years have been truly amazing,” she said in a CWI news release with the announcement. “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. I have represented West Indies in five ODI World Cups and seven T20I World Cups.”
Selman, a pacer from Barbados, started her international career against Ireland Women in Dublin in 2008, and she played 100 ODIs taking 82 wickets and 96 T20Is taking 51 wickets.
The Barbados Cricket Association recently announced that she had joined its staff as the first Women’s Cricket Officer effective January 1 this year, and she will focus on the development of the junior and senior women’s game in the island.
“This marks my final bow after 18 incredible years,” she said. “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.”
Barbadian twins Kycia and Kyshona Knight, who will turn 32 next month, made their international debuts in 2011 and 2013 respectively.
Kycia, a wicketkeeper-batsman, made 1 327 runs in 87 ODIs and 801 runs in 70 T20Is, while fellow left-handed batsman Kyshona gathered 851 runs in 51 ODIs and 546 runs in 55 T20Is.
“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,” they said.
“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.”
