MIAMI, (Reuters) – Guyanese batsman Ramnaresh Sarwan has been recalled to the West Indies squad for the World Cup starting on the Indian sub-continent next month, the West Indies Cricket Board said today.
Sarwan was dropped for a tour of Sri Lanka in November after the selectors expressed concerns over his fitness and he has not played for West Indies since a one-day series against South Africa last June.
Darren Sammy will skipper a team which does not feature pace bowler Jerome Taylor but includes another Jamaican in all-rounder Andre Russell, who has played in one test but has yet to appear in a full one-day international.
Jamaican wicketkeeper Carlton Baugh has been selected ahead of Denesh Ramdin while Twenty20 specialist, the big-hitting Kieron Pollard, is also included.
Prior to the tournament opening on Feb. 19, the squad will play three one-day internationals against Sri Lanka starting on Jan. 31.
Squad: Darren Sammy (captain), Adrian Barath, Carlton Baugh, Sulieman Benn, Darren Bravo, Dwayne Bravo, Shivnarine Chanderpaul, Chris Gayle, Nikita Miller, Kieron Pollard, Ravi Rampaul, Kemar Roach, Andre Russell, Ramnaresh Sarwan, Devon Smith.
WICB
“The Selection Committee deliberated extensively over the selection of this most important World Cup squad and while choosing some players was straightforward we believe that we have come up with a good mix of players who will be able to do well in the Asian conditions,” Chairman of the Selection Committee Clyde Butts said, according to the West Indies Cricket Board website.
“We have some of the most experienced ODI cricketers on the international stage along with the effervescence and freshness of some quality young players who we are confident can not only contribute to the team but win matches,” Butts added.
Prior to the World Cup, the squad will play three One Day Internationals against Sri Lanka on January 31st and February 4th and 6th and will be engaged in a preparatory camp before their first World Cup match on February 24th against South Africa.
West Indies Team Management Unit
Ottis Gibson – Head Coach
Richie Richardson – Team Manager
David Williams – Assistant Coach
CJ Clarke – Physiotherapist
Hector Martinez-Charles – Fitness Trainer
Richard Berridge – Video & Statistical Analyst
Philip Spooner – Media Manager
Vigil Browne – Masseur
West Indies World Cup Warm Up matches
Feb 12 – v Kenya (Colombo)
Feb 16 – v Sri Lanka (Colombo)
West Indies World Cup Group matches
Feb 24 – v South Africa (New Delhi)
Feb 28 – v Netherlands (New Delhi)
Mar 4 – v Bangladesh (Dhaka)
Mar 11 – v Ireland (Mohali)
Mar 17 – v England (Chennai)
Mar 20 – v India (Chennai)
