BRIDGETOWN, Barbados, CMC – Jamaican stroke-maker Marlon Samuels has been recalled to the West Indies squad for the first time in three years, after being named yesterday in a 13-man squad for the Twenty20 International against Pakistan later this month.
The 30-year-old right-hander has been sidelined from international cricket since being slapped with a two-year ban in 2008 for inappropriate ties to a bookie. The suspension ended last year.
He is part of a significantly remodelled squad which includes four uncapped players in Christopher Barnwell, Ashley Nurse, Krishmar Santokie and Danza Hyatt.
No room has been found for veteran Guyanese batsmen Shivnarine Chanderpaul and Ramnaresh Sarwan both of whom played in the World Twenty20 Championship last year.
Flashy right-hander Lendl Simmons, ignored for over a year, has also been recalled. As expected, Darren Sammy continues as captain.
“The squad includes players who have performed well in the Caribbean T20. We are looking to expose players as we build towards the next ICC World T20 Tournament next year,” said chairman of selectors, Clyde Butts.
“Samuels and Simmons have both played at this level before and performed consistently in the Caribbean T20. We believe they will be key members of this team.”
Samuels compiled 263 runs in the CT20 at an average of 63 but it would have been his heaving scoring during the Regional First Class Championship that also convinced the selectors.
He plundered 830 runs – the most by any player – including a fabulous double century against Guyana in the opening round of the tournament in Jamaica.
Ironically, his last international match in April 2008 was an ODI against Sri Lanka at the Beausejour Cricket Ground, the venue for the T20I against Pakistan on April 21st.
Simmons, whose repeated omission from Windies squads caused a stir only recently, has been rewarded for his 249 runs in the CT20 and a rich first class season which yielded 513 runs.
Butts said selectors had also been impressed with the uncapped players and believed they deserved an opportunity at the highest level.
“Hyatt, Santokie andNurse played in the West Indies ‘A’ Team against Pakistan ‘A’ and they did well. We have decided to give them the opportunity in the senior West Indies team and we believe they will make the transition to the higher level,” Butts explained. “Barnwell also did well in the Caribbean T20 and he also had exposure for Guyana in the Champions League last year. He is a lively and enthusiastic cricketer and we expect good things from him as well.
“Hyatt is a hard-hitting batsman who has demonstrated his ability to be a match-winner when he played against Pakistan ‘A”. Santokie has been exceptional in the Caribbean T20 using the new ball for Jamaica.
“Nurse is a clever bowler, a hard worker and has the ability to make vital runs in the lower order as well.”
Big-hitting Chris Gayle, along with all-rounders Kieron Pollard and Dwayne Bravo, were ineligible for selection after missing this year’s Caribbean Twenty20 Championship.
SQUAD – Darren Sammy (captain), Christopher Barnwell, Devendra Bishoo, Darren Bravo, Andre Fletcher, Danza Hyatt, Ashley Nurse, Ravi Rampaul, Kemar Roach, Andre Russell, Marlon Samuels, Krishmar Santokie, Lendl Simmons.
