Pollard, Bravo return for T20Is; 3 rookies in Windies ODI squad for India series

The junior Bravo will represent the Windies for the first time in two years while his elder brother – Dwayne Bravo continues to be ignored by the WICB despite his outstanding performance in the Caribbean Premiere League. Pollard, on the other hand, will play his first international match this year when the three-match T20I series kickstarts on November 4th at Kolkata.

Darren Bravo and Kieron Pollard returned to the West Indies T20I squad even as Chris Gayle and Sunil Narine decided to give the entire limited overs leg a miss as the West Indies Cricket Board announced the ODI and T20I squads for the India series.

The junior Bravo will represent the Windies for the first time in two years while his elder brother – Dwayne Bravo continues to be ignored by the WICB despite his outstanding performance in the Caribbean Premiere League. Pollard, on the other hand, will play his first international match this year when the three-match T20I series kickstarts on November 4th at Kolkata.

"The team will continue to retain some experienced players who will work alongside the younger group...We welcome back Darren Bravo and Kieran Pollard to international cricket," WICB chairman of the selection panel Courtney Browne said.

Gayle, who recently played his last List A game for Jamaica, had ruled himself out from India and Bangladesh series because of his commitments with the Afganistan Premiere League.

"We will be without our stalwart, Chris Gayle for this Indian tour and the next tour against Bangladesh as he has declined selection at this time, however, he has made himself available for the selection for the visit of England to the Caribbean and the World Cup in 2019," Browne said.

The other big name in the Windies limited overs cricket, Andre Russell was named in the T20I squad but was ruled out from the ODI series preceding it. "Russell has been ruled out of all 50-over cricket due to injury," said the WICB.

Swashbuckling opener, Evin lewis found a place in both the squads despite there being speculations about his spot after he had denied the central contract last week.

The ODI squad, however, bears the same sorry look of the Test side. Three uncapped players in opener Chandrapaul Hemraj, all-rounder Fabian Allen and pacer Oshane Thomas were included. The only experienced players to fly in are Marlon Samuels and Evin Lewis.

"With the 2020 ICC World T20 two years away and the limited amount of T20 Internationals within the next year, the panel believes at this juncture it is time to invest in the young players that have emerged over the last two years from Windies A and B teams, along with 2018 CPL," Browne explained.  

"As we continue our Cricket World Cup preparations, the upcoming tour of India provides a great opportunity to expose some of our young talent," He added. 

West Indies will have camp before the first of the 5 ODIs in Guwahati on October 21.

ODI squad: Jason Holder (capt), Fabian Allen, Sunil Ambris, Devendra Bishoo, Chanderpaul Hemraj, Shimron Hetmyer, Shai Hope, Alzarri Joseph, Evin Lewis, Ashley Nurse, Keemo Paul, Rovman Powell, Kemar Roach, Marlon Samuels, Oshane Thomas

T20I squad: Carlos Brathwaite (capt), Fabian Allen, Darren Bravo, Shimron Hetmyer, Evin Lewis, Obed McCoy, Ashley Nurse, Keemo Paul, Khary Pierre, Kieron Pollard, Rovman Powell, Denesh Ramdin, Andre Russell, Sherfane Rutherford, Oshane Thomas