BRIDGETOWN: Veteran pacer Kemar Roach has been recalled into the West Indies ODI squad after a gap of nearly three years ahead of their series against India, which starts on 6 February.
The 33-year-old hasn’t played any white-ball cricket – either List A or T20 – since the ODI against India in August 2019. Chief selector Desmond Haynes has stated that Roach has been recalled keeping in mind the need for early wickets against a strong team like India.
Apart from Roach, top-order batter Brandon King and middle-order batter Nkrumah Bonner have also been recalled to the squad. King last played an ODI for West Indies in January 2020 whereas Bonner last represented in the ODIs against Bangladesh in January last year.
Roston Chase and Justin Greaves have been dropped following a lean series with the bat against Ireland, which West Indies lost 2-1. King and Bonner have replaced them in the squad. Fabian Allen is another addition in place of Gudakesh Motie, after his recovery from COVID-19.
The three-match ODI series will be played in Ahmedabad on 6,9 and 10 February, and will be part of the ICC Cricket World Cup Super League.
West Indies’ tour of India also comprises three T20Is, which will be played at the Eden Gardens in Kolkata. The selection panel has decided to wait until the end of the ongoing series against England to announce the squad for T20I leg.
West Indies ODI squad: Kieron Pollard (c), Fabian Allen, Nkrumah Bonner, Darren Bravo, Shamarh Brooks, Jason Holder, Shai Hope, Akeal Hosein, Alzarri Joseph, Brandon King, Nicholas Pooran, Kemar Roach, Romario Shepherd, Odean Smith, Hayden Walsh Jr.
