Gayle returns in Windies squads to play Ireland

ST.JOHN’S, Antigua, CMC-Three of the leading West Indies cricketers, Chris Gayle, Darren Sammy and Marlon Samuels, have been recalled to the side for the limited-overs matches against Ireland starting next week.

Gayle returns to the regional side after missing the New Zealand tour due to a hamstring injury.

Sammy and Samuels also made comebacks to both squads after recovering from injuries which made them miss the limited-overs leg during the New Zealand tour.

Uncapped 23-year-old fast bowler Miguel Cummins was named in the ODI squad while Ravi Rampaul was only included in the T20 squad.

Rampaul returned home from the New Zealand tour after sustaining a thumb injury and missing the last two ODIs and both T20s.

Tino Best, Johnson Charles, Narsingh Deonarine and Chadwick Walton were dropped from both squads on the heels of poor form in New Zealand.

Allrounder Kieron Pollard was not considered due to the knee injury he sustained last year and continues to be under rehabilitation.

Krishmar Santokie and Dwayne Smith were recalled in the T20 squad, in place of Nikita Miller and Kieran Powell.

Medium pacer Santokie returns to the regional side after nearly two years while allrounder Smith also made a comeback since his last T20 for West Indies in December 2012.

West Indies will host Ireland for two T20s and one ODI with the first T20 on February 19 in Kingston.

West Indies ODI squad: Dwayne Bravo (capt), Darren Bravo, Miguel Cummins, Kirk Edwards, Chris Gayle, Jason Holder, Nikita Miller, Sunil Narine, Kieron Powell, Denesh Ramdin (wk), Marlon Samuels, Darren Sammy, Lendl Simmons.

West Indies T20 squad: Darren Sammy (capt), Samuel Badree, Dwayne Bravo, Andre Fletcher, Chris Gayle, Sunil Narine, Denesh Ramdin, Ravi Rampaul, Andre Russell, Marlon Samuels, Krishmar Santokie, Lendl Simmons, Dwayne Smith.