West Indies announce squad for T20Is in New Zealand

HAMILTON, New Zealand – The West Indies Cricket Board advised that its selection panel has chosen a 15-member squad for a series of two Twenty20 Internationals against New Zealand later this month.

Regular West Indies T20I captain Darren Sammy has been ruled out of selection due to a hamstring injury he sustained prior to the start of the third One-day International against the New Zealanders on Boxing Day in Queenstown.

“Darren is undergoing treatment and should be fit to return to playing duties in time for the Regional Super50 Tournament which starts later this month in Trinidad,” said West Indies team physiotherapist C.J. Clark.

Sammy will not return home immediately, but will remain in New Zealand to continue his rehabilitation under the direction of Clark.

His place in the squad will be filled by left-arm spinner Nikita Miller and ODI captain Dwayne Bravo will lead the side in his absence.

The joining T20I players – Samuel Badree, Andre Fletcher and Andre Russell – arrived in New Zealand on Monday.

Russell will be considered for selection for the final ODI against the Black Caps on Wednesday at Seddon Park here.

Neither Chris Gayle nor Kieron Pollard was considered for selection to the T20I squad due to injury.
Gayle continues his recovery from a hamstring injury sustained during the tour of India last November, and Pollard continues his rehabilitation following a knee injury around the same time.

Squad: Dwayne Bravo (Captain), Samuel Badree, Tino Best, Johnson Charles, Narsingh Deonarine, Andre Fletcher, Jason Holder, Nikita Miller, Sunil Narine, Kieran Powell, Denesh Ramdin, Ravi Rampaul, Andre Russell, Lendl Simmons, Chadwick Walton

Team management unit: Ottis Gibson (Head Coach), Richie Richardson (Team Operations Manager), Andre Coley (Assistant Coach), Stuart Williams (Assistant Coach), C.J. Clark (Physiotherapist), Hector Martinez Charles (Strength & Conditioning Coordinator), Richard Berridge (Video & Statistical Analyst), Virgil Browne (Massage Therapist), Adriel “Woody” Richard (Media Relations Manager)