West Indies hope for strong start against PNG

Carlos Brathwaite. Pic/AFP

More than eight years after Carlos Brathwaite's four sixes at Eden Gardens gave them their second T20 world title, West Indies will look to redeem themselves at home when they begin their campaign in the event's ninth edition against Papua New Guinea, here on Sunday.

Brathwaite had slammed Ben Stokes for four successive sixes in the final over to pull off one of the most astonishing chases that made the West Indies the first team to win the T20 World Cup twice. Their maiden triumph was in 2012.

Their two-time T20 World Cup winning skipper Darren Sammy is back as a coach and the Rovman Powell-led side already made their intention clear with a ruthless win over Australia in a warm-up match.

But Australia were a depleted side as only nine players from their squad were available for the match.

Nicolas Pooran will play a pivotal role in the middle-order, but West Indies boast additional firepower with Powell, Andre Russell, Shimron Hetmyer, Sherfane Rutherford, and Romario Shepherd, making them one of the most formidable batting line-ups.

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