CASTRIES, St Lucia (CMC) — Former West Indies c aptain Darren Sammy has pledged to buy a bulk of tickets for every match of next month’s ICC Women’s Twenty20 World Cup being played his homeland, in a bid to support women in sport and the global tournament.

Sammy, who twice presided over successful title-winning campaigns at the T20 World Cup, disclosed he will pay for a minimum of 50 tickets per day for all matches scheduled for Darren Sammy Cricket Ground in St Lucia.

“This is one of my gifts to the females of St Lucia, to women’s cricket, to women’s sport in general. I want to make this pledge and I will pay for the tickets myself,” Sammy said yesterday.

“It is important that we show our support for this event in a meaningful way. This is the biggest sporting event to come to the Caribbean, involving women, and we must show the world what it means to us.”

Sammy was last month unveiled as a Cricket West Indies Ambassador to work on promoting the November 9-24 tournament, which will also be played in Guyana and Antigua.

The all-rounder, who also led West Indies in Tests and one-dayers, said he also wanted fans to explore the beauty of his homeland while enjoying the matches.

“I want everyone to come out and ‘Watch This’ and rally round Stafanie Taylor and her team… they deserve all our support, they are our ambassadors, our champions,” the 34-year-old Sammy said.

“They won the last time in India back in 2016 and I know they will make us proud once more. I’m playing my part by getting the tickets for the fans. While you’re enjoying the cricket, also enjoy the beauty of St Lucia.

“We want to inspire you and showcase the natural warmth of the people and the idyllic beauty of the island.”

The Windies are the defending champions and will play most of their matches in St Lucia — where first-round matches will be staged on November 10, 12, 14, 16 and 18.

The other first-round matches will be at the Guyana National Stadium from November 9 to 17.

Antigua will host the semi-finals on November 22 and the final, two days later, at the Vivian Richards Cricket Ground.