This key player abandons West Indies camp in the middle of the T20 World Cup 2024!

The West Indies cricket team finished their group stage campaign in style by winning all four of their games to head into the crucial Super-8 stage of the ongoing ICC T20 World Cup 2024. On Tuesday, June 18, the West Indies handed Afghanistan their first defeat in the Group C match.

Despite being without their star all-rounder Romario Shepherd, the co-host West Indies team crushed the Afghanistan cricket team by 104 runs in the 40th match of the ongoing T20 World Cup 2024 on Tuesday at the Daren Sammy Cricket Ground in Saint Lucia.

Well, Shepherd opted to miss their final T20 World Cup 2024 group match against Afghanistan to fulfill his family commitments. The 29-year-old all-rounder returned home to be with his wife, Tia Terencia Joseph, as the couple is expecting their second child.

Romario Shepherd's family commitment doesn't halt West Indies' dominance in T20 World Cup 2024

The couple is already blessed with a son named Romauldo Shepherd, and she is due to deliver. Shepherd prioritized this special moment with his family over national commitments since they are already qualified for the Super-8 stage of the ongoing T20 World Cup 2024.

Meanwhile, West Indies captain Rovman Powell expressed full support for Shepherd's decision, highlighting the team's understanding and respect for personal responsibilities amidst the ongoing T20 World Cup 2024 at home.

Powell emphasized the healthy team culture that encourages players to prioritize family alongside their cricketing commitments. Rovman Powell stated: “Romario is welcoming his child. That's what we embrace as a team—to let him go since family is very important.”

Shepherd is expected to rejoin the West Indies squad on Wednesday, June 19, ahead of their first Super-8 clash of the prestigious T20 World Cup 2024 with the defending champions England on June 20 at the Daren Sammy Cricket Ground in Saint Lucia.

Notably, the left-arm fast bowler Obed McCoy replaced Shepherd in the West Indies’ playing XI, while Shai Hope came in for Roston Chase for their final group match against Afghanistan. Speaking about the WI vs. AFG match, Rashid Khan won the toss and decided to bowl first, but the call backfired.

West Indies crush Afghanistan by 104 runs despite missing Romario Shepherd

The West Indies team posted a mammoth total of 218/5 on the board against Afghanistan, thanks to Nicholas Pooran’s wonderful knock of 98 runs off 53 balls. Johnson Charles also contributed 43 runs, with Powell scoring 26 runs off 15 balls against the Afghan side in Saint Lucia.

Gulbadin Naib was the standout bowler from Afghanistan, finishing with 2/14 in 2 overs against the West Indies. Chasing the target, the Afghanistan team faltered, as they were bowled out for just 114 runs in 16.2 overs, with Ibrahim Zadran being the top scorer with 38 runs against the West Indies.

Oben McCoy (3/14), Akeal Hossain (2/21), and Gudakesh Motie (2/28) wreaked havoc on the batting line-up of the Afghanistan team. Pooran won the Player of the Match award for his match-winning knock in the match. Notably, Afghanistan will kick off their campaign in the T20 World Cup 2024 Supr-8 stage against India on June 22 in Barbados.