The West Indies named star players Chris♚ Gayle and Andre Russell in the🅰ir 2019 World Cup squad on Wednesday, although all-rounder Kieron Pollard was among those left out.
Big-hitting opening batsman Gayle returned to the Windies ODI set-up during their 2-2 series draw against England earlier this year, scoring 🗹two hundreds and two fifties in four innings.
Russell did not feature against England and has been strugg🍬ling with injuries, playing a limited role with the ball in the ongoi𓆉ng Indian Premier League (IPL) for Kolkata Knight Riders (KKR).
But he has been in fine form with the bat, and will bring vital power hitting t🐭o the middle order for the two-time world champions in England and Wales.
Pace bowler Shannon Gabriel, who played the most recent of his 18 ODIs in 2016🍃, has also been recalled.
All-roundꦆer Fabian Allen was preferred to spinners Devendr🍃a Bishoo and Sunil Narine.
Teams can make changes to their squads before May 23 – but can only alter them after that in the event of injuries, with any changes needing to be approved by the International Cricket Council (ICC).
West Indies w🎃ill compete against Ireland and Bangladesh in a triangular one-day series from May 5-13, before starting their World Cup campaign against Pakistan at Trent Bridge, Nottingham on May 31.
Six players – Sunil Ambris, John Campbell, Jonathan Carter, Roston Chase, Shane Dowrich and Raymon Reifer – are in the tri-series squad but have not made the cut for the World Cup.
West Indies squad for the 2019 World Cup:
Jason Holder (c), Fabian Allen, Darren Bravo, Caꩲꦓrlos Brathwaite, Sheldon Cottrell, Shannon Gabriel, Chris Gayle, Shimron Hetmyer, Shai Hope (wk), Evin Lewis, Ashley Nurse, Nicholas Pooran, Kemar Roach, Andre Russell, Oshane Thomas.
