By Neto Baptiste
National women’s cricketer Shawnisha Hector has a dream, one that includes her representing the senior West Indies team at the international level within the next year.
Hector was amongst seven new players contracted by Cricket West Indies in early July after leading the Leeward Islands senior women’s team in the regional tournament earlier this year.
“So far, during the camp, we’re working on fitness. It’s going good so far, my fitness is improving and I am getting stronger in terms of performance. I can see myself making it into the 14 for the team [senior], playing and representing my country and the Caribbean,” she said.
Hector is currently in training with other members of the squad and has labelled the experience overwhelming, adding that having a full complement of coaches and trainer on hand has helped her tremendously.
“We’re [Antigua] lacking on our coaching staff for the women staff so therefore it’s going to improve not only my performance but the team’s performance going forward. There are more facilities towards getting my fitness level up and more scheduled [targeted] towards what I need to be doing and what I am not doing right and there is more motivation going forward,” the cricketer said.
The Antiguan also had some advice for young cricketers aspiring to get to the pinnacle where cricket is concerned.
“I would say keep working, push as hard as you can even if you’re tired, just believe in yourself and keep going at it,” she said.
The other newly retained players are Shabika Gajnabi, Chinelle Henry, Stacy-Ann King, Kycia Knight, Natasha McLean and Karishma Ramharack.
Shemaine Campbelle, Shamilia Connell, Deandra Dottin, Afy Fletcher, Hayley Matthews, Chedean Nation, Shakera Selman and Stafanie Taylor were all retained by the regional board.