All-rounder Kieron Pollard has returned to the T20I team as Cricket West Indies (CWI) announced a 15-member squad for the upcoming three-match series against India beginning November 4.
The 31-year-old will be playing his first T20I series after one-year.
Chairman of the selection panel, Courtney Browne, explained that they are looking to invest in players who have done well in the domestic cricket as T20 World Cup is just two years away.
He further said that they would continue to retain their experienced players so that they can work alongside the younger group.
“With the 2020 ICC World T20 two years away and the limited amount of T20 Internationals within the next year, the panel believes at this juncture it is time to invest in the young players that have emerged over the last two years from Windies A and B teams, along with 2018 CPL,” West Indies Cricket website quoted Browne, as saying.
“The selection of a young group two years prior to the World T20 gives the coaching staff time to help them with their skills and for the team to develop into a cohesive and competitive unit. The team will continue to retain some experienced players who will work alongside the younger group,” he added.
Middle-order batsman Darren Bravo and all-rounder Andre Russell have also made a comeback into the T20 squad.
Meanwhile, the attacking opener Chris Gayle has made himself unavailable for India and Bangladesh tour and would be available for selection during the 2019 England tour.
“We will be without our stalwart, Chris Gayle for this Indian tour and the next tour against Bangladesh as he has declined selection at this time, however, he has made himself available for the selection for the visit of England to the Caribbean and the World Cup in 2019,” WICB chairman of the selection panel Courtney Browne said in a statement.
West Indies T20I squad:
Carlos Brathwaite (c), Fabian Allen, Darren Bravo, Shimron Hetmyer, Keemo Paul, Kieron Pollard, Denesh Ramdin, Andre Russell, Sherfane Rutherford, Oshane Thomas, Khary Pierre, Obed McCoy, Rovman Powell, Nicholas Pooran.
