West Indies women’s fast bowler Shakera Selman believes the enhanced team chemistry in the West Indies side will play a key role in their defense of the Twenty/20 World Cup title in the Caribbean next month.

The core of the squad had been together over the last several months in various training camps and Selman said this had resulted in strong camaraderie in the unit, which augurs well for their campaign in the November 9-24 tournament.

West Indies will compete in group a alongside powerful England, South Africa, Sri Lanka and Bangladesh, and are expected to be one of the two teams to reach the final four.

Group b, meanwhile, will see powerhouses Australia, India, new Zealand, Pakistan and Ireland clashing for a place in the semi-finals .

In the last tournament in India two years ago, west indies were forced to overcome a strong New Zealand side in the semi-finals before downing the Aussies in the final, and Selman believes the hosts will have to be at their best again against these top tier sides.