Young players get the nod as West Indies announce T20 squad

Coach Ottis Gibson got his wish as selectors included four uncapped players in the squad. —Photo by AFP Dawn News Updates
BRIDGETOWN: Four uncapped players were included in the West Indies squad to face Pakistan in the only Twenty20 international scheduled for later this month.

Several big-name players were dropped as selectors announced the 13-man squad on Thursday.

Other than captain Darren Sammy, only five players, including Darren Bravo, Devendra Bishoo, Kemar Roach, Andre Russell, Ravi Rampaul, from the World Cup 2011 squad were retained in the side.

Marlon Samuels, who completed his two-year ban last year, is also part of the squad along with Lendl Simmons, who last played for West Indies in February 2010.

West Indies ended their World Cup campaign with a 10-wicket quarter-final loss against Pakistan, drawing criticism from coach Ottis Gibson. Gibson was particularly upset with the senior members of the squad and called for a rebuilding effort after the tournament.

Selectors, it seems, paid heed to Gibson’s words by including four uncapped players: batsman Danza Hyatt, all-rounder Christopher Barnwell, off-spinner Ashley Nurse and left-arm seamer Krishmar Santokie.

Chris Gayle, Dwayne Bravo, Kieron Pollard, Shivnarine Chanderpaul, Ramnaresh Sarwan and Sulieman Benn are the notable absentees from the squad. Gayle Bravo and Pollard miss out due to ineligibility, as they opted out of the Carribean T20, while Chanderpaul, Sarwan and Benn have been dropped by selectors.

“The squad includes players who have performed well in the Caribbean T20. We are looking to expose players as we build towards next ICC World T20 Tournament next year. Samuels and Simmons have both played at this level before and performed consistently in the Caribbean T20,” chairman of selectors Clyde Butts was quoted as saying by Cricinfo.

West Indies play a one-off Twenty20 international against Pakistan on April 21, which will be followed by a five-match ODI series and two Test matches.

West Indies squad: Darren Sammy (captain), Christopher Barnwell, Devendra Bishoo, Darren Bravo, Andre Fletcher, Danza Hyatt, Ashley Nurse, Ravi Rampaul, Kemar Roach, Andre Russell, Marlon Samuels, Krishmar Santokie, Lendl Simmons.