BASSETERRE, St. Kitts – CRICKET WEST INDIES has selected its 15-member squad for the 2019 Cricket World Cup scheduled to be played in England and Wales.
The May/June tournament will see 10 teams competing for the top prize.
At a media conference on Wednesday (Apr. 24) in Bridgetown, Barbados, the Windies Interim Chairman of Selectors, Robert Haynes announced the following names of players selected: Jason Holder (Captain), Fabian Allen, Darren Bravo, Carlos Brathwaite, Sheldon Cottrell, Shannon Gabriel, Chris Gayle, Shimron Hetmyer, Shai Hope (Wicketkeeper), Evin Lewis, Ashley Nurse, Nicholas Poran, Kemar Roach, Andre Russell and Oshane Thomas.
Names of the squad were submitted Tuesday to the International Cricket Council ahead of the deadline.
Speaking at Wednesday’s media conference, Haynes said that based on the new selection policy approach, which allowed for the consideration of a number of players who have not regularly appeared in the side over the last two years, there was a wide base of talent from which to choose.
“There were a number of tough calls we had to make to settle on our squad of 15, including ensuring there was some continuity in the side. But we believe we have chosen a strong squad of players, taking into consideration such factors as experience, fitness, team balance, current form and conditions.”
Haynes noted: “In keeping with tournament regulations, we submitted our squad prior to the deadline date of yesterday. All players named for the Tri-Nations Series could however stake a claim to be in the final 15-member squad that will be submitted after the Tri-Series and before the final deadline next month.”
Noticeably absent from the squad are pacer Alzarri Joseph, spinner Sunil Narine and hard-hitting middle order batsman Keiron Pollard.
According to Haynes, Narine and Jospeh were not consider due to injuries.
“Looking at the condition of pitches in ODIs over the last few years in England and Wales, it appears that big totals will be the order of the day, so we believe we have a line-up that can put big totals on the board or chase them as we have seen from recent matches.
“With players like the captain, Jason Holder, as well as Andre Russell in the lower middle-order, we believe we have good depth to our batting which will allow us to play the brand of cricket that will give us the best of chances of winning the World Cup.”
