West Indies name squads for Sri Lankan tour

Tuesday, 8 October 2024 00:10 - - {{hitsCtrl.values.hits}}

West Indies T20I Captain Rovman Powell

West Indies ODI Captain Shai Hope

Andre Russell, Nicholas Pooran, Shimron Hetmeyer and Akeal Hosein have all opted out of West Indies’ T20I squad for their upcoming tour of Sri Lanka for personal reasons. Opening batter Evin Lewis, who had last played a T20I during the World Cup in 2022, returns to the side for the three T20Is in Dambulla. Lewis was also picked for the ODI leg of the Sri Lanka tour.

Brandon King also returned to the T20I side after having recovered from the side injury. In the absence of Russell, West Indies called up his Trinbago Knight Riders team-mate Terrance Hinds and Antigua and Barbuda Falcons’ Shamar Springer. This will be the first international call-up for both allrounders who were impressive in CPL 2024.

Rovman Powell will continue to lead the T20I side with Roston Chase retained as his deputy.

“The tour of Sri Lanka gives us a chance to test our depth and assess players in different situations, especially with several senior players missing out for various reasons, including a need for rest and rehabilitation from injury,” said Head Selector Darren Sammy. “We are confident in the squad’s ability to compete strongly against Sri Lanka.”

Meanwhile, 17-year-old Jewel Andrew has broken into West Indies’ ODI squad for the three-match series in Pallekele. He could become the youngest West Indian to make his debut in ODI cricket; only Derek Sealy and Garry Sobers have made their international debuts for West Indies at the age of 17.

Andrew marked his debut with an unbeaten 50 against a St. Kitts and Nevis Patriots attack that included internationals like Anrich Nortje and Tabraiz Shamsi. Andrew had been earmarked to become a future West Indies star right from his age-group days.

Shai Hope will continue to captain the ODI team with Alzarri Joseph his deputy. West Indies’ white-ball tour of Sri Lanka will begin on October 13 and will run until October 26.

WEST INDIES T20I SQUAD

Captain Rovman Powell, Vice-Captain Roston Chase, Fabian Allen, Alick Athanaze, Andre Fletcher, Terrance Hinds, Shai Hope, Alzarri Joseph, Shamar Joseph, Brandon King, Evin Lewis, Gudakesh Motie, Sherfane Rutherford, Romario Shepherd, Shamar Springer

WEST INDIES ODI SQUAD

Captain Shai Hope, Vice-Captain Alzarri Joseph, Jewel Andrew, Alick Athanaze, Keacy Carty, Roston Chase, Matthew Forde, Shamar Joseph, Brandon King, Evin Lewis, Gudakesh Motie, Sherfane Rutherford, Jayden Seales, Romario Shepherd, Hayden Walsh Jr