West Indies announce squad for Ireland tri-series

SAINT JOHN’S, Antigua and Barbuda: West Indies on Saturday named a 14-man squad without the likes of Andre Russell, Chris Gayle, Shimron Hetmyer and Alzarri Joseph for the tri-series, which serves as dress rehearsal in the lead-up to the ICC World Cup 2019.

While West Indies are set to miss out on some of the big names for the series, the selection panel, featuring interim head coach Floyd Reifer, stressed that this wasn’t a reflection of what the team’s World Cup squad will necessarily look like.

The side still features a good mix of experience and youth with Jason Holder as captain. He’ll enjoy the services of other established players such as Darren Bravo, Shai Hope, Roston Chase and Shane Dowrich. Interestingly, Shannon Gabriel, who last played an ODI in December 2017, has also earned a call up.

The series, which will be played between May 5 and May 17 in Dublin, involves Bangladesh as the third team, and is the perfect opportunity for West Indies to start getting acclimatised to English conditions for the World Cup, which starts on May 30.

"The selection panel consisted of interim Head Coach Floyd Reifer, Captain Jason Holder and interim Chairman of Selectors Robert Haynes," said Jimmy Adams, director of cricket.

"They have selected a squad to Ireland that allows a slightly wider pool of players to get 50-over experience in UK conditions which I think is very important. This is not the World Cup squad, as a number of players are not available for this series as they are still participating in the IPL."

Comprising primarily of Holder, Gabriel and Kemar Roach, the pace attack wears an experienced look.

The only uncapped member in the ODI squad is Barbadian all-rounder Raymon Reifer, cousin of Floyd. The 27-year-old has 51 wickets to his name from as many List A games.

Squad: Jason Holder (capt), John Campbell, Darren Bravo, Shai Hope, Sheldon Cottrell, Shannon Gabriel, Kemar Roach, Sunil Ambris, Raymond Reifer, Fabian Allen, Ashely Nurse, Roston Chase, Shane Dowrich, Jonathan Carter.