… Hetmyer, Lewis, others out for personal reasons
CRICKET West Indies (CWI) selectors yesterday announced the two squads for the upcoming Men’s tour of Pakistan.
CWI confirmed the schedule, along with the players who will be involved in the 3 One-Day Internationals (ODIs) and 3 T20 Internationals (T20Is), which will bowl off from December 13 to 22 at the National Stadium, Karachi.
Uncapped players have been named for the tour. The ODIs will see fresh faces in: Justin Greaves, Shamarh Brooks, Guyanese left-arm spinner Gudakesh Motie and fast-bowling all-rounder Odean Smith.
Smith and Motie are also selected in the T20I squad for the first time, along with left-arm fast-bowling all-rounder Dominic Drakes.
Motie was a travelling reserve for the recent ICC T20 World Cup, while Drakes and Smith were net bowlers before the start of the tournament.
All-rounder Jason Holder is being rested for this tour due to workload management while Fabian Allen and Obed McCoy are unavailable due to injury and rehabilitation.
Meanwhile, batsmen Evin Lewis, Shimron Hetmyer, Andre Russell and Lendl Simmons are unavailable due to personal reasons
CWI Head Selector, Roger Harper said: “There are a number of talented newcomers in each format who will have the opportunity to show what they are capable of at the international level. Justin Greaves is a very talented player, had a good CG Insurance Super50 tournament and performed well in the President’s XI match against Ireland in 2020.
“Odean Smith really grabbed our attention in the last CPL. His pace was never in question. However he has added greater control and has displayed the ability to be a wicket-taker.
“Shamarh Brooks batted well in the CG Insurance Super50 Cup and followed that up with good performances in the CPL. He will lend greater depth to the batting line-up. Gudakesh Motie has been rewarded for his outstanding performance in the CG Insurance Super50, followed by his showing in the CPL. Dominic Drakes has the potential to be an outstanding all-rounder as was displayed during the last CPL.”
Harper added: “The ODIs in Pakistan are part of the ICC ODI Super League where points gained go towards qualification for the ICC World Cup 2023. So these ODI’s are very important to us and are being treated as such.”
The ODI Series will be West Indies fourth series of 12 in the ICC Men’s Cricket World Cup Super League in which the top seven teams can secure automatic qualification for the ICC Men’s Cricket World Cup 2023 in India.
West Indies currently lie in eighth position out of 13 teams and have the opportunity to move above Pakistan into seventh position.
TOUR SCHEDULE:
December 13 – 1st T20I, Karachi
December 14 – 2nd T20I, Karachi
December 16 – 3rd T20I, Karachi
December 18 – 1st ODI, Karachi
December 20 – 2nd ODI, Karachi
December 22 – 3rd ODI, Karachi
FULL SQUADS
One-Day Internationals: Kieron Pollard (captain), Shai Hope (vice-captain), Darren Bravo, Shamarh Brooks, Roston Chase, Justin Greaves, Akeal Hosein, Alzarri Joseph, Gudakesh Motie, Anderson Phillip, Nicholas Pooran, Raymon Reifer, Romario Shepherd, Odean Smith and Hayden Walsh Jr.
T20 Internationals: Kieron Pollard (captain), Nicholas Pooran (vice-captain), Darren Bravo, Roston Chase, Sheldon Cottrell, Dominic Drakes, Shai Hope, Akeal Hosein, Brandon King, Kyle Mayers, Gudakesh Motie, Romario Shepherd, Odean Smith, Oshane Thomas and Hayden Walsh Jr.
