St. John’s Antigua- A 14-member squad has been announced to represent the Leeward Islands in the West Indies Cricket Board (WICB) Under-19 Tournament slated to bowl off in Barbados on Sunday.

The team will be captained by 17-year-old Ackeme Saunders, a right-handed middle order batsman who made his debut with the St Kitts senior national team back in 2010 in the NAGICO One Day competition held in Anguilla and St Maarten.

He is joined by two other Kittitian players in Tristan Hanley, Leachim Phipps and Darren Hubson.

Nevisians Duan Webbe, Collin Archibald, Chavel Archibald and Diamond Parris are also included.

Antigua & Barbuda’s Alzarri Joseph, Shavon Moor and Omari Mathew will also make the trip, while Deno Baker and Shawn Tuitt of Montserrat are also included.

Ashawn Hodge rounds off the selection as the lone Anguilla player in the line-up.

The team will be coached by former West Indies wicketkeeper/batsman Ridley Jacobs, and he will be assisted by Pernel Whatley, who will also act as the team’s manager.

Jacobs, during an interview, expressed a level of comfort with the final make-up of the team.

“I am pretty comfortable with the final team. I think we basically lack one or two middle order batsmen, but I think we have a few all-rounders who I think can fit in that slot, can bat at six, and can do a fairly good job; so I am pretty confident with the team I have now,” the former player said.

“What I like about the guys is that they are willing to learn and I know they train very hard and I think that with that determination and willpower to work hard, I think they should do pretty well in that tournament.”

Asked what the team’s biggest hurdle will be throughout the tournament, Jacobs pointed to the power of the mind.

“Mental toughness. I think that is going to be the point that we are going to really have to look at and try to improve on because I know most of the guys are talented players, but you have to be mentally fit and prepared, grind it out when tough times come, and really get the best out of yourself as a team and as a player, and I think the mental toughness is going to be the key on that tour,” he said.

The squad is slated to leave Antigua on Thursday afternoon for Barbados.