ST JOHN’S, Antigua, CMC – Seasoned right-hander Marlon Samuels is out of the Tri-Nations Series starting in Zimbabwe later this month.
The West Indies Cricket Board announced on Thursday that the 35-year-old had been replaced in the 15-man squad by wicketkeeper/batsman Shane Dowrich for the November 16-27 One-Day International tournament involving Sri Lanka and hosts Zimbabwe.
No reason was given for the Jamaican’s withdrawal but it comes on the heels of the news Wednesday that the player had rejected the WICB’s offer of a central contract for the next year.
The move cast doubt over Samuels’s international career, especially in light of his recent struggles in the series against Pakistan.
The elegant right-hander, however, has been a key member of the ODI side of recent. He made two hundreds last year and was one of the leading scorers in the Tri-Nations Series involving Australia and South Africa last June in the Caribbean, gathering 258 runs at an average of 36. He struck a hundred against Australia in Bridgetown.
Samuels is one of two players out of the Tri-Nations Series as 19-year-old fast bowler Alzarri Joseph has also been replaced by seamer Miguel Cummins.
Again, the WICB gave no reason for the change but CMC Sports understands Joseph has opted to return to his native Antigua because of an illness in the family.
Joseph has played two ODIs – both in the recent three-match series against Pakistan in the United Arab Emirates which the regional side lost by a 3-0 margin.
Both Samuels and Joseph were also members of the squad which beat Pakistan in by five wickets in the third and final Test in Sharjah on Thursday.
SQUAD – Jason Holder (captain), Sulieman Benn, Carlos Brathwaite, Kraigg Brathwaite, Darren Bravo, Jonathan Carter, Johnson Charles, Miguel Cummins, Alzarri Joseph, Shane Dowrich, Shannon Gabriel, Shai Hope, Evin Lewis, Sunil Narine, Ashley Nurse, Rovman Powell.
