Powell so proud to turn out for Windies

OFF-FIELD issues continue to bog down the West Indies but debutant Rovman Powell is at least one man who is all smiles after getting off to a fine start in Pakistan.

The Jamaican hit 38 off 31 balls in West Indies’ only T20 warm-up game against an Emirates Cricket Board XI to kick off a tour that includes three-game T20, ODI and Test series.

The World T20 champions, who have also called-up uncapped fast bowler Kesrick Williams and wicketkeeper Nicholas Pooran in their T20 squad, recorded a 22-run victory on Tuesday with Pooran, 20, smashing an unbeaten 47 from 23 deliveries. And in a series where spin could prove all important, Samuel Badree and Sunil Narine took 3-20 and 2-21 respectively.

“Getting the call from (selector) Courtney Browne was one of the happiest days of my life,” Powell said.

“Representing West Indies at any level is something that I dream about.The dream has come to a reality.

“When you set targets and set expectations, sometimes you set up for failures. What I do is try to play the conditions.”

Team manager and former fast bowler Joel Garner is supervising the team in the UAE after Phil Simmons was sacked earlier this month by the WICB, who cited “differences in culture and strategic approach”.

Toby Radford, former Middlesex and Sussex batsman, has been drafted in as batting coach for the tour having previously worked with the squad as an assistant coach under Ottis Gibson.

In the Pakistan camp, all-rounder Imad Wasim is aiming for more consistency after his side’s 2-2 Test series draw in England saw them rise to No.1 in the world – before being humbled in the one-dayers.

“We have decided now, as a group, that we will be consistent,” Wasim said. “The label, people say that we are inconsistent, which is true so I think now things have to change, it has to change for the betterment of Pakistan cricket.

“We’re trying to show some skill level and the intensity that we did in Manchester. We’re just changing the trend now.”