DESPITE the team’s below par performances in the last two editions, Head Coach Daren Sammy says he is optimistic the West Indies can provide a real challenge for the ICC Men’s T20 World Cup title in the Caribbean and the USA.

Since his appointment in May 2023 Sammy has had success in the T20 format, winning three of the team’s four series — including against World Cup favourites India and England. The Caribbean men completed a dominant 3-0 series sweep over South Africa on Sunday, in the first international series in Jamaica since 2022. As captain, Sammy led the Windies to their two World Cup titles in 2012 and 2016.

However, following his retirement the team struggled in 2021, winning just one match in the ‘Super 12’ and in 2022 they failed to make it out of the group featuring relative minnows Zimbabwe, Scotland and Ireland.

But now, 12 months in as head coach, Sammy says he’s confident the team can turn things around and win their third crown.

“I have a team that is very proud. They believe they’re some of the better players in the world, they believe as a team that we can win, and I’m pretty sure you saw how we played [against South Africa],” he said.

“I believe with all the work we’ve put in, the way we’ve played T20 cricket at home — especially last year and the start of the year — we haven’t lost a series at home. I’m happy with what I’m seeing, the roles that have been executed, and I’m pretty sure Captain Rovman [Powell[] has the belief that we could go out and win the World Cup, and so do I.”

The Windies were without the likes of Powell, Andre Russell, Nicholas Pooran and Shimron Hetmeyer for the South Africa series, due to their involvement in the Indian Premier League. However, Sammy expects them to transition into the team as they begin their campaign in the coming days.

“They’ve been playing cricket. Rovman, Hetmeyer, Russell just won an IPL so game time in the middle has been good. [Romario] Shepherd came in and saw what we had, Rutherford hasn’t played a game since February, but we’ve been in constant communication with these guys,” he said.

“It’s not new for the guys turning up couple days before — that’s what they’ve been doing for the last six years or so — but it’s a World Cup, and what I’ve seen here and the guys that are coming in, most of them have match practice under their belt so I’m not worried at all.”

The Windies’ bowling department has been a concern in the past, which was a key reason for their pursuit of star spinner Sunil Narine who declined to return to international cricket.

All-rounder Jason Holder was also ruled out of the tournament with a shoulder injury.

However Sammy believes the likes of Obed McCoy, Gudakesh Motie and Shamar Joseph can play a huge part in the team’s success.

“Jason is a big blow. He’s been part of this T20 set-up for the last few years [and] he’s been one of our better ‘death bowlers’ but we also know Obed is quality. He [McCoy] also brings that left-arm angle and variation; you saw [that] when he’s good, he’s really good and he can create some problems in the middle overs and in the back end. He’s an adequate replacement,” he said.

“Motie continues to do really well. He’s been a massive find for us — especially in the middle overs, getting wickets and creating pressure — and seeing Shamar bowl the new ball, it’s encouraging signs.”

Sammy’s men will play their final warm-up match against Australia in Trinidad on Thursday, before they start their group stage against Papua New Guinea on Sunday in Guyana.