Pollard To Lead Windies ODI, T20I Teams For India Series; Russell Excluded

Speaking on the squad selection, head coach Phil Simmons said: "We have three matches in each format, so we wanted to give each squad a chance to compete against India. No disrespect to Afghanistan, but facing India will be more difficult"

The West Indies cricket selection panel on Thursday named the ODI and T20I squads for the 'Maroon Brigade' which will take on India in the upcoming series in December. Reigning World T20 champions West Indies will lock horns with India in 3-match T20I series in Hyderabad, Thiruvananthapuram and Mumbai between December 6 and December 11. The two teams will then meet in three ODIs in Chennai, Vizag and Cuttack between December 15 and December 22. Allrounder Kieron Pollard will lead both the T20 and ODI squads for West Indies against India. Meanwhile, all-rounder Andre Russell has been excluded from both the squads. The West Indies selectors have reposed faith on the players who recently played against Afghanistan in Lucknow.

🚨BREAKING🚨: WEST INDIES ANNOUNCE ODI & T20I SQUADS AHEAD OF INDIA TOUR NEXT MONTH pic.twitter.com/4dti4LdAOD

— Windies Cricket (@windiescricket) November 28, 2019

Speaking on the squad selection, head coach Phil Simmons said: "We have three matches in each format, so we wanted to give each squad a chance to compete against India. No disrespect to Afghanistan, but facing India will be more difficult. Our players really got the hang of things with the 3-0 series win in the ODIs against Afghanistan, and I believe we will move from strength to strength." Simmons added: "The T20Is will give them chance to play and develop, and again, with no disrespect to Afghanistan, this should be a stronger T20 opposition and we will see how they perform against India. "The next World T20 Cup is in Australia (2020) and the one after that is here in India (2021), so there is a lot of preparation to be done. We have given the players here a chance in this series and we know we have players outside who may be coming in later on as well, so it's good to give those who are here another opportunity." Squads: T20 Internationals: Kieron Pollard (captain), Fabian Allen, Sheldon Cottrell, Shimron Hetmyer, Jason Holder, Brandon King, Evin Lewis, Keemo Paul, Nicholas Pooran, Khary Pierre, Denesh Ramdin, Sherfane Rutherford, Lendl Simmons, Hayden Walsh jr., Kesrick Williams ODIs: Kieron Pollard (captain), Shai Hope, Sunil Ambris, Roston Chase, Sheldon Cottrell, Shimron Hetmyer, Jason Holder, Alzarri Joseph, Brandon King, Evin Lewis, Keemo Paul, Khary Pierre, Nicholas Pooran, Romario Shepherd, Hayden Walsh jr.