ST JOHN’S, Antigua, (CMC) – FOLLOWING an impressive showing in the ongoing Caribbean Premier League (CPL) Kamil Pooran has earned a maiden callup to the West Indies T20I squad to face India in their upcoming white-ball tour of the subcontinent.
The 30-year-old opening batsman was named in the West Indies’ 15-man squad, which was revealed by Cricket West Indies on Saturday and also sees the recall of exciting lower order batter Quentin Sampson.
The regional side will take on the top ranked India in three One-Day Internationals from September 27 to October 3, before playing a five-match T20I series that runs from October 6 to 17.
Pooran is currently the seventh highest run scorer in this year’s CPL, despite his St Lucia Kings failing to make the playoffs.

He scored 273 runs in eight innings at an average of 39 with a strike rate of 159.64
Meanwhile, Sampson, who was dropped for the T20I series earlier this year against Sri Lanka, makes his return after a decent showing in the CPL for the Guyana Amazon Warriors, where he scored 141 runs in 12 matches at an average of 28.20.
CWI confirmed that veteran all-rounder Jason Holder has been rested for the series.
Head coach Daren Sammy said the team had been selected with a clear focus on long-term objectives.
“We are looking to build on the momentum from our series win against Sri Lanka, with the long-term goal of developing a strong core of players ahead of the next T20 World Cup.
“The challenge of playing against the World Champions at home will provide valuable preparation, allowing us to continue improving and developing both individually and as a collective unit,” Sammy said.
John Campbell makes his return to the ODI team after suffering a hamstring injury in the series against New Zealand, while Ackeem Auguste has been ruled out of the tour as he continues his rehabilitation after undergoing surgery in August.
He has been replaced by Jewel Andrew who will serve as a top and middle order batting option.
Shimron Hetmyer, who featured in the last two matches of the New Zealand series and has been in prolific form in the CPL for the Amazon Warriors, has been permitted an extended recovery period and will miss the ODI series, but will join the squad for the T20I series.
Regardless of the outcome of the ODI series, the West Indies will have to participate in the ICC’s qualification tournament early next year to book their spot in the World Cup.
Despite this, Sammy reiterated the importance of the series of matches.
“Playing against the top team in the world presents us with a chance to fine tune and improve our performances as an ODI team which has seen quality performances across the cycle.
“The series also creates a valuable platform to assess players who are stepping into important roles for this series with a long-term target of competing in the World Cup in 2027,” Sammy said.
The squad departs the Caribbean on Monday and will arrive in Trivandrum on September 23.
WEST INDIES ODI SQUAD: Shai Hope (captain), Jewel Andrew, John Campbell, Keacy Carty, Roston Chase, Matthew Forde, Justin Greaves, Amir Jangoo, Alzarri Joseph, Shamar Joseph, Vitel Lawes, Gudakesh Motie, Keemo Paul, Sherfane Rutherford, Jayden Seales.
WEST INDIES T20I SQUAD: Shai Hope (captain), Jewel Andrew, Roston Chase, Matthew Forde, Shimron Hetmyer, Akeal Hosein, Shamar Joseph, Gudakesh Motie, Keemo Paul, Kamil Pooran, Rovman Powell, Sherfane Rutherford, Quentin Sampson, Romario Shepherd, Shamar Springer.
Full Tour Schedule:
1st ODI: September 27: Thiruvananthapuram
2nd ODI: September 30: Guwahati
3rd ODI: October 3: New Chandigarh
1st T20I: October 6: Lucknow
2nd T20I: October 9: Ranchi
3rd T20I: October 11: Indore
4th T20I: October 14: Hyderabad
5th T20I: October 17: Bengaluru