Four West Indies Women cricketers announce retirement

Longstanding T&T and West Indies Women’s cricketer Anisa Mohammed has retired from the sport. She is one of four West Indies Women’s cricketers to have called time on their careers. The others are Shakera Selman, Kycia Knight and Kyshona Knight. Mohammed and Selman both served as vice-captains during their 20 and 18-year careers respectively.

Cricket West Indies has hailed them for their “dedication, skill, and sportsmanship” after they formally announced their international retirements from the sport.

The quartet were 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 made her debut for the West Indies Women 21 years ago in 2003 at the age of 15 against Japan Women in an ICC Women’s Cricket World Cup Qualifier in the Netherlands. Her last match was against Australia Women in the ICC Women’s Cricket World Cup in March 2022.

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.

She played 141 One-Day Internationals (ODIs) and 117 T20 Internationals (T20Is). She bagged 180 ODI wickets, with a career best of 7-14 against Pakistan in November 2011. She captured 125 wickets in 117 T20Is and in 2016 she became the first cricketer (male or female) to take 100 T20I wickets.

She also has the distinction of being the first West Indian bowler to take a hat-trick in a Women’s T20I.  She was a member of the West Indies Women’s team, which won the ICC Women’s T20 World Cup at Eden Gardens in Kolkata, India in 2016.

Mohammed said: “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 announced that she had joined its staff as the first Women’s Cricket Officer effective Jan. 1 this year, and she will focus on the development of the junior and senior women’s game on the island.

Selman said: “This marks my final bow after 18 incredible years,”

“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. 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.”