West Indies selection panel has announced an 18-member provisional squad ahead of the upcoming mega T20I summer. The Caribbeans play three back-to-back five-match T20 International (T20I) series against South Africa, Australia, and Pakistan.
The likes of Sheldon Cottrell, Shimron Hetmyer, Andre Russell, Oshane Thomas, and Hayden Walsh Jr. return alongside the majority of the squad who featured in the 2-1 T20I series victory against Sri Lanka in March. Russell last featured for West Indies last year in March in Sri Lanka whereas Hetmyer’s most recent appearance came in New Zealand in a T20I as well. The southpaw was dropped from the series against Sri Lanka on fitness grounds.
Andre Russell, Shimron Hetmyer return to West Indies squad
The provisional squad will quarantine and train in St. Lucia ahead of the first T20I series against South Africa starting on June 26 at the Grenada National Cricket Stadium. The official squad will subsequently be selected and announced ahead of each series.
“The Provisional T20I Squad was put together with all T20I Home Series Matches against South Africa, Australia and Pakistan in mind. This gives us the opportunity to continue to build towards the upcoming World Cup and to determine our best squad and our ideal eleven,” CWI’s Lead Selector, Roger Harper.
Meanwhile, West Indies head coach Phil Simmons is confident going into the power-packed summer and looking forward to the ICC T20 World Cup scheduled to take place in India later this year. The Caribbeans are the defending champions having won the tournament in 2016 in India.
“These upcoming T20Is are crucial in terms of our preparation for the ICC T20 World Cup. We have assembled a very solid squad — with experienced world-class match-winners and some exciting young talented players, ready to explode onto the global stage and do great things for West Indies cricket.”
Provisional West Indies squad – Kieron Pollard (C), Nicholas Pooran (VC), Fabian Allen, Dwayne Bravo, Sheldon Cottrell, Fidel Edwards, Andre Fletcher, Chris Gayle, Shimron Hetmyer, Jason Holder, Akeal Hosein, Evin Lewis, Obed McCoy, Andre Russell, Lendl Simmons, Kevin Sinclair, Oshane Thomas, Hayden Walsh Jr
