BRIDGETOWN, Barbados, CMC – West Indies have suffered two setbacks in their preparation for the World Cup.
Official sources have confirmed that Carlton Baugh Jr and Adrian Barath have suffered hamstring injuries, and will return home earlier than scheduled from the tournament.
Baugh retired out on 29 during the team’s second World Cup warm-up match on Tuesday, and Darren Bravo was required to keep wicket.
Barath did not bat or field in the match. He has also been struggling with his injury, and is also likely to miss the tournament, which opens on Saturday, and will be co-hosted by India, Sri Lanka, and Bangladesh.
West Indies Cricket Board officials are awaiting the outcome of final tests on Baugh and Barath, but it’s hardly likely they will decide to allow them to stay on the sub-continent, considering the format of the competition, and the limited time available.
This would mean that either opener Devon Smith, or veteran left-hander Shivnarine Chanderpaul could open the batting for West Indies in the competition.
There is also the possibility of a recall for wicketkeeper/batsman Denesh Ramdin, following his solid start to the regional first-class championship.
But the WICB had previously announced batsman Kirk Edwards and wicketkeeper/batsman Devon Thomas as two of their three World Cup reserves, and they are likely to be chosen.
No official replacements however, have been named, and the WICB will also have to submit a request for a change of personnel to the tournament’s event committee for approval before confirming their replacements.
West Indies open the World Cup against South Africa next Thursday at the Feroz Shah Kotla Stadium in Delhi, India.
Darren Sammy’s side have been drawn in Group-B, where they will also face Netherlands, Bangladesh, Ireland, England, and co-hosts India.
