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West Indies One Day International (ODI) captain Shai Hope and fast bowler Oshane Thomas both earned recalls to the region T20 International (T20I) team today, as they were named in a 15-man provisional squad to face India in the five-match Kuhl Stylish Fans T20I Series powered by Black and White.
The series starts on Thursday 3 August at the Brian Lara Cricket Academy in Tarouba, Trinidad.
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Hope’s last T20I came in India during a 17-run defeat on 20 February 2022. The 29-year-old wicketkeeper/ batsman contributed eight runs to the total and was dismissed with the “Maroon Men” on 26-2, although they recovered to tally 167 for 9 in an unsuccessful run chase.
He averages 17.88 from 17 T20Is with two half-centuries.
The 26-year-old Thomas has 21 wickets from 20 T20Is at an average of 28.66 and an economy rate of 9.40. His last T20I came away to Pakistan on 16 December 2021, in a seven-wicket loss—in which his two overs went for 25 runs.
Hope, Thomas, allrounder Roston Chase and batsman Shimron Hetmyer replace Raymon Reifer, Sheldon Cottrell, Yannic Cariah, Shamarh Brooks from the West Indies T20 team that toured South Africa in March.
West Indies lead selector Desmond Haynes told the CWI Media that the current squad was “selected with the next ICC Men’s T20 World Cup in mind”.
Photo: Harry Trump/ Getty Images
The next T20 World Cup will be jointly hosted by West Indies and the United States between 4 – 30 June 2024.
“We are looking at various plans as we try to find the right combinations,” said Haynes. “As we prepare, we are looking to build a unit which we believe can do the job when we host the global event in just under a year.
“We have some match-winners in our line-up and we will look to have the right kind of preparation, starting here in Trinidad on Thursday.
“We also have other players who could come into consideration going forward, with the Caribbean Premier League starting next month, others will come into the reckoning.”
West Indies T20I squad: Rovman Powell (captain), Kyle Mayers (vice-captain), Johnson Charles, Roston Chase, Shimron Hetmyer, Jason Holder, Shai Hope, Akeal Hosein, Alzarri Joseph, Brandon King, Obed McCoy, Nicholas Pooran, Romario Shepherd, Odean Smith, Oshane Thomas.
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Where is FABIAN ALLEN & EVIN LEWIS, Two of the best T20 players in the West Indies.
I don’t know where Fabian is but I’m guessing he’s lost his place to Motie. On the available evidence, that seems fair.
Evin, though, is where he belongs. And where Hetmyer should be.
If your all-consuming interest is in self (Evin refused to take a fitness test, remember? Shimron pulled out of the last tour at the 11 1/2th hour), forget cricket, the quintessential team game.
Try tennis. Singles only!