Skipper Holder hails Paul

HARARE, Zimbabwe, (CMC):

Highly regarded all-rounder Keemo Paul has come in for high praise from West Indies captain Jason Holder, following his international debut against Afghanistan on Thursday.

The 20-year-old, a late replacement for the injured left-armer Sheldon Cottrell, scored an unbeaten 16 batting at number 10 and then grabbed a brace of wickets with his lively pace as West Indies slid to a three-wicket defeat at Harare Sports Club in their opening Super Sixes match of the ongoing ICC World Cup Qualifiers.

"I was really pleased with Keemo. He flew in two days ago, had a practice session [on Wednesday], and was straight into the game," Holder said on Thursday.

Injury concerns

"We've obviously got some injury concerns in our camp and he was asked to do a job, and I felt he performed creditably."

A key member of the West Indies side that won the Youth World Cup two years ago, Paul's stocks have risen quickly of recently. He starred in the recent first-class season, grabbing 42 wickets, and also scored his maiden hundred, as he helped propel Guyana Jaguars to their fourth straight title.

In the recent Regional Super50. Paul snapped up 13 wickets at 21 runs apiece, earning a call-up to West Indies A, where he took eight wickets including a five-wicket haul - in two one-dayers and notched a half-century.