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Veteran Trinidad and Tobago Red Force pacer Shannon Gabriel was recalled to the West Indies One-Day International (ODI) team today, as Cricket West Indies (CWI) announced its white-ball squads for next month’s tour of South Africa.
The West Indies will play three ODIs on 16, 18 and 21 March, followed by three T20 Internationals on 25, 26 and 28 March.
As young fast bowler Jayden Seales is ruled out following knee surgery and Anderson Phillip is still recovering from injury, the West Indies selectors rewarded Gabriel for his performances in November’s CG United Super50 Cup.
Gabriel was the joint leading wicket taker with 15 wickets from seven matches at an average of 14.2. He last played ODIs for the West Indies at the 2019 ICC Cricket World Cup.
“We have had some injuries to our fast-bowling pool so therefore we see Gabriel as an ideal fit heading into South Africa, [with] the surfaces we expect to play on,” lead selector Desmond Haynes told the CWI Media.
“It is felt that we need someone to get those early wickets and he is the kind of bowler that can do that. Judging from his performances in the CG United Super50 Cup, he is potentially a wicket-taking option up front.”
Opener and wicketkeeper Shai Hope will lead the West Indies ODI squad while allrounder Rovman Powell serves as vice-captain. Powell heads the Maroon Men for the T20Is, with batting allrounder Kyle Mayers as deputy.
(Copyright Daniel Prentice/ Wired868)
West Indies selectors named left-arm pacer Obed McCoy in the T20I squad, subject to medical clearance.
Former white-ball captain Nicholas Pooran was named in both limited overs teams. Absent, though, was gifted batsman Shimron Hetmyer who was controversially dropped for the 2022 ICC T20 World Cup.
“For the T20Is, we have an experienced squad,” said Haynes. “What we are looking for is to form a cohesive unit and look at the players who we believe can form the nucleus, as we build towards doing very well and challenging when we host the ICC Men’s T20 World Cup in June 2024.”
West Indies ODI squad:
Shai Hope (captain), Rovman Powell (vice-captain), Shamarh Brooks, Yannic Cariah, Keacy Carty, Roston Chase, Shannon Gabriel, Jason Holder, Akeal Hosein, Alzarri Joseph, Brandon King, Kyle Mayers, Nicholas Pooran, Romario Shepherd and Odean Smith.
(Copyright Randy Brooks / AFP via Getty Images/ CWI Media)
West Indies T20I squad:
Rovman Powell (captain), Kyle Mayers (vice-captain), Shamarh Brooks, Yannic Cariah, Johnson Charles, Sheldon Cottrell, Jason Holder, Akeal Hosein, Alzarri Joseph, Brandon King, Obed McCoy, Nicholas Pooran, Raymon Reifer, Romario Shepherd and Odean Smith.
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