Christopher Henry Gayle, the most destructive T20 cricketer in the world, and Fidel Edwards have been recalled to the West Indies T20I squad ahead of the three-match home series against Sri Lanka beginning on March 3.
Cricket West Indies (CWI) selection panel today announced both the T20 International and One Day International squads for the upcoming clash with Sri Lanka.
Trinidad and Tobago left-arm spinner Akeal Hosein and the Guyanese right arm spinner Kevin Sinclair have gotten the nod from CWI lead selector Roger Harper and his panel. Sinclair earns his first West Indies selection while this is the first T20I call-up for Hosein.
This T20I Series will create history as the first full international matches to be played by the official West Indies Men’s team at the CCG. The matches will also be the first West Indies T20Is to be played in Antigua since 2013. West Indies will use these matches to prepare to defend their ICC T20 World Cup title scheduled to be played in India later this year.
The CG Insurance ODI Series forms part of the ICC ODI Super League and these three matches provide the opportunity for West Indies to secure their first points as the team tries to qualify automatically for the 2023 ICC Cricket World Cup in India.
Notable omissions were batsman Shimron Hetmyer, all-rounder Royston Chase and fast bowlers Sheldon Cottrell and Oshane Thomas. It was reported that they failed to reach the minimum fitness standard in time for selection consideration. They will all remain in Antigua after the CGI Insurance Super50 Cup to work on their fitness and conditioning.
All-rounder Andre Russell is still recovering from contracting COVID-19 earlier this month, and despite testing negative over a week ago was ruled out of the T20Is by the CWI Medical Panel whilst he completes his “return to play” protocols.
Speaking on the squads, CWI Lead Selector Roger Harper said:
“As we build towards the defence of the T20 World Cup, the opportunity is being taken to determine our best team and squad as we go forward. Chris Gayle has performed very well in recent tournaments and the selection panel thinks that he can still add great value to our team. Fidel Edwards has been selected to give the bowling the potent firepower needed.”
Harper added:
“Jason Holder has shown his all-round value in this format in recent times and after missing a few series he will add depth and experience to the squad. Akeal Hosein performed very well in Bangladesh [ODI Series] and had excellent stats in the CPL so this is an opportunity to see how he equips himself in this format. Kevin Sinclair grabbed our attention in the Super50 Cup back in 2019 and has been consistently economical in the last CPL and the current CG Insurance Super50. He will provide an off-spinning option for the team.”
T20I SQUAD:
ODI SQUAD:
FULL MATCH SCHEDULE
CCG – Coolidge Cricket Ground
SVRS – Sir Vivian Richards Stadium
March 3: 1st CG Insurance T20I at CCG – 6pm Eastern Caribbean Time (ECT), 5pm Jamaica Time (JT)
March 5: 2nd CG Insurance T20I at CCG – 6pm ECT/ 5pm JT
March 7: 3rd CG Insurance T20I at CCG – 6pm ECT/5pm JT
March 10: 1st CG Insurance ODI at SVRS – 9:30am ECT/ 8:30am JT
March 12: 2nd CG Insurance ODI at SVRS – 9:30am ECT/8:30am JT
March 14: 3rd CG Insurance ODI at SVRS – 1:30pm ECT/12:30pm JT (day/night)
March 17-18: Two-day warm-up match at CCG
March 21-25: 1st Test at SVRS – 10am ECT/9am JT
March 29 to April 2: 2nd Test at SVRS – 10am ECT/9am JT
