WI coach backs regional side for 20/20 World Cup

West Indies coach Ottis Gibson believes the embattled regional team can win the International Cricket Council 20/20 World Cup in the Caribbean from April 30 to May 16.



Gibson says home advantage and the availability of the best players are factors, which can lead the team to victory.



The West Indies team, minus captain Chris Gayle, Dwayne Bravo and Kieron Pollard, arrived in the country yesterday to use the Jamaica Cricket Festival as preparation for the 20/20 World Cup.



West Indies play their first match in the festival tomorrow when they clash with Canada at the Trelawny Multi-Purpose Stadium in a 20/20 game.



The festival, which ends on April 17, also involves Jamaica and Ireland.



West Indies have been drawn in Group ‘D’ of the 20/20 World Cup at the National Stadium at Providence in Guyana alongside England and Ireland.



They will open their campaign against qualifiers Ireland in a day/night encounter on April 30 and then play their final preliminary match against England at May 3.