ST JOHN'S, Antigua (CMC):

In spite of their double-series defeat to little-rated Bangladesh, the makeshift West Indies squad has received staunch support from the West Indies Cricket Board (WICB) ahead of the St Kitts leg of the current series.

The Floyd Reifer-led squad, assembled hastily to replace top-flight players who boycotted the series over a pay and contracts dispute with the WICB, arrived in St Kitts Wednesday.

They have already lost the three-match series - trailing 0-2 - but WICB President Julian Hunte is unwavering in his support for the players ahead of the third and final one-day international (ODI) today.

Moments of brilliance

Speaking Wednesday, Hunte urged the team not to lose faith but to be resilient and brave in the upcoming assignments.

"We want to encourage the players and let them know that they have our support. Even though they lost the Test series and the one-day series against Bangladesh they are not losers," Hunte said.

"The team has not had the success that we would have hoped for, but they have produced moments of brilliance and have displayed the ability to fight hard for West Indies cricket," Hunte noted.

A WICB press release late Wednesday said that "several players have performed well in the Test matches and one-dayers" in the series.

"Fast bowler Kemar Roach was the pick of the bowlers in the Tests with 13 wickets, including six for 48 in Grenada, while seamer Darren Sammy took 12 wickets, including two five-wicket hauls.

"In the batting, all-rounder Dave Bernard made three half-centuries, while opener Omar Phillips and Travis Dowlin narrowly missed centuries," the release stated.

The WICB release also praised some of the efforts in the ODIs so far - Sammy, Bernard, Dowlin and Devon Smith among the standouts.

"So far in ODIs, Sammy and Bernard have continued their good form, while left-hander Devon Smith has been consistent at the Number 3 position.

"Dowlin has been an inspiration, making a brilliant 100 not out in the second match - his first century in just his second one-day International."

The West Indies lost the Digicel Test Series against Bangladesh 0-2 and are 0-2 down in the Digicel One-Day Series with one match left to be played, today at Warner Park.

The two teams will also play the Digicel Twenty20 International on Sunday at Warner Park, St Kitts.

'We want to encourage the players and let them know that they have our support. Even though they lost the Test series and the one-day series against Bangladesh they are not losers.'