West Indies’ white-ball captain Kieron Pollard will return to the squad for their upcoming series against Ireland and England, the national cricket board (CWI) said on Friday.
Pollard was ruled out of the side’s tour of Pakistan this month after failing to recover from a hamstring injury suffered during the T20 World Cup. That tour was later cut short following Covid-19 cases in the West Indies camp.
West Indies are scheduled to play Ireland in three one-day internationals starting on January 8 in Jamaica and a one-off Twenty20 match on January 16 before travelling to Barbados to face England in five T20 matches from January 22-30.
“We have tried to maintain the general make-up of the squads from the Pakistan tour before Christmas, with the captain and some senior players coming back in,” said head coach Phil Simmons.
“Covid-19 has also played a part in the final make-up of the squad. The challenges in the next couple (of) months are getting the young players in both squads to not only improve on their skills but maintain the attitude and desire we saw in Pakistan.”
The board said that all-rounder Fabian Allen has recovered from an ankle injury but will be unavailable for the Ireland series after testing positive for Covid-19.
Fast bowler Sheldon Cottrell and all-rounders Roston Chase and Kyle Mayers, all of whom missed the Pakistan tour due to Covid-19, were also included in the squads to face Ireland and England.
ODI squad to face Ireland: Kieron Pollard (captain), Shai Hope (vice captain), Shamarh Brooks, Roston Chase, Justin Greaves, Jason Holder, AkealHosein, Alzarri Joseph, GudakeshMotie, Jayden Seales, Nicholas Pooran, Romario Shepherd, Odean Smith, Devon Thomas.
T20 squad to face Ireland and England: Kieron Pollard (captain), Nicholas Pooran (vice captain), Fabian Allen (England T20Is only), Darren Bravo (England T20Is only), Roston Chase, Sheldon Cottrell, Dominic Drakes, Shai Hope, AkelHosein, Jason Holder, Brandon King, Kyle Mayers, Rovman Powell, Romario Shepherd, Odean Smith, Hayden Walsh Jr.
