West Indies cricket board have announced their ODI squad against India. The three-match ODI series, which will be played in Ahmedabad on February 6, 9 and 11, is part of the ODI Super League which forms the pathway for the 2023 World Cup, which is scheduled in India in October-November next year.
Kieron Pollard has been handed the leadership role for the tour. Interestingly, West Indies have recalled senior pacer Kemar Roach for the three-match ODI series . Lead Selector, Desmond Haynes, said, “Kemar Roach is one of our leading fast bowlers and we believe we need bowlers upfront to get an early wicket, and Kemar, with an economy rate of five, is certainly good enough to play. Over the last few years, Nkrumah Bonner’s cricket has come on leaps and bounds and we believe he should be given an opportunity to play in the 50-over format.”
Apart from Roach, Nkrumah Bonner and Brandon King have recalled in the 15-man squad . King last played an ODI for West Indies in January 2020 whereas Bonner last represented them in the format in the ODIs against Bangladesh in January last year.
Haynes added, “We want to have competition for places. We want to reach a stage where we have a lot of players fighting for positions. We want to broaden the pool of players we have to choose from. The team we have selected is a very good side and we are looking at this tour as part of the preparations for the World Cup in India in 2023.”
West Indies ODI squad: Kieron Pollard (c), Kemar Roach, Nkrumah Bonner, Brandon King, Fabien Allen, Darren Bravo, Shamarh Brooks, Jason Holder, Shai Hope, Akeal Hosein, Alzarri Joseph, Nicholas Pooran, Romario Shephard, Odean Smith, Hayden Walsh Jr.