Sunil Narine makes return to WI squad

Sunil Narine is set to make a comeback to the WI squad

Sunil Narine was recalled to the national squad by the West Indies selectors after almost a year out of action from international cricket. Narine has been included in the ODI and T20I squad for the West Indies tour of Sri Lanka.

Narine sat out of the West Indies World Cup campaign in order to work on remodelling his suspect action, which was reported during the 2014 Champions League T20. Following the report, he underwent corrective action and was recalled for the West Indies World Cup squad. Narine last played international cricket in the Bangladesh tour of West Indies.

West Indian all-rounders Dwayne Bravo and Kieron Pollard have still not yet been picked for the ODI squad after being contentiously left out of the World Cup squad. Phil Simmons had earlier told the press about the ‘outside interference’ that caused Bravo and Pollard to be left out. The WI coach has been suspended by the West Indies Cricket Board, pending a disciplinary hearing with regard to the comments he made.

The selectors have left out many players who under-performed in the World Cup for the West Indies. Famous names include Dwayne Smith, Lendl Simmons, Darren Sammy, Sulieman Benn and Kemar Roach. Chris Gayle misses out on account of his recovery from a back surgery.

Smith had a woeful run during the WI World Cup campaign, scoring only 93 runs in six innings. Simmons scored a 102 against Ireland in a losing cause, but was only able to score 71 runs in the remaining five innings. Sammy had an ordinary campagin scoring 177 runs in five innings and picking up only one wicket.

According to a report on ESPNCricinfo, some of the players making a comeback include Ravi Rampaul, Devendra Bishoo, Andre Fletcher, Carlos Brathwaite and Jermaine Blackwood. Ravi Rampaul last played for the national team in the West Indies’ curtailed tour of India. Bishoo, Fletcher, Brathwaite and Blackwood earned recalls owing to their good runs in the Caribbean Premier League.

Sammy will lead the T20I squad, which includes Dwayne Bravo and Kieron Pollard. The limited-overs leg of the Sri Lanka tour begins on November 1, after the completion of the two Test matches. National selector and former fast-bowler, Eldine Baptiste, has been appointed the interim coach for the tour of Sri Lanka.

ODI squad: Jason Holder (captain), Devendra Bishoo, Jermaine Blackwood, Carlos Brathwaite, Darren Bravo, Jonathan Carter, Johnson Charles, Andre Fletcher, Jason Mohammed, Sunil Narine, Denesh Ramdin, Ravi Rampaul, Andre Russell, Marlon Samuels, Jerome Taylor.

T20I squad: Darren Sammy (captain), Samuel Badree, Darren Bravo, Dwayne Bravo, Jonathan Carter, Johnson Charles, Andre Fletcher, Jason Holder, Sunil Narine, Kieron Pollard, Denesh Ramdin, Ravi Rampaul, Andre Russell, Marlon Samuels, Jerome Taylor.