Quintyne, Knight focussed for debut series

Shaquana Quintyne and Kycia Knight, the two uncapped players in the West Indies women's squad for the series against Pakistan, are focussed on lifting their games to international standards when the ODIs begin on August 28. The Barbados pair impressed during the recently-completed WICB Women's Championships, following which they secured spots in the 14-player limited-overs squad.

Quintyne, a 15-year-old legspinner, said she was surprised to get her national call-up. "Honestly, I was quite surprised to be picked in the West Indies team, but now I have made it, I want to give my all and stay in the team," she said. "I started playing when I was seven and I have enjoyed every minute on the cricket field. Playing cricket comes naturally. I always play to win. I don't like losing."

Also a capable batsman, Quintyne holds two batting records in Barbados club cricket, having scored 176 in the domestic 40-overs tournament and an unbeaten 150 in the Twenty20 competition.

Knight, 19, the reserve wicketkeeper in the squad behind captain Merissa Aguilleira, said she has been working on both her batting and keeping skills. "I just want to put all I have learned into my game when I get a chance to play for the West Indies."

The women's game is on the rise in the Caribbean she said, while also crediting her coach Ezra Moseley for moulding her personal game. "Women's cricket is growing in the West Indies and I would like to be part of a West Indies team which can go on to be the best in the world.

"I remember going to Kensington Oval to watch cricket and that is when I fell in love with the game. I would sit and watch everything Brian Lara did on the field. Ezra Moseley has been a tremendous help [to me]. He has helped me with my batting and also talked a lot about understanding the game."

The series begins with a one-dayer at St Vincent on August 28, the first of four 50-overs matches that are followed by four Twenty20s.