GEORGETOWN, Guyana, CMC – Embattled left-hander Shiv Chanderpaul was one of 15 players called up by West Indies selectors yesterday to prepare for the opening Test against Pakistan starting next week.
The veteran Guyanese batsman has been at loggerheads with the West Indies Cricket Board (WICB) for the past week following his non-selection for the just concluded five-match One-Day International series.
He has been joined by prolific teenaged opener Kraigg Brathwaite, fit-again pacer Fidel Edwards and Test vice-captain Brendan Nash, none of whom played in the ODIs.
Chanderpaul’s inclusion in the training squad comes on the heels of his war of words with the WICB.
The 37-year-old said he had been asked by West Indies officials to retire from ODIs but had refused, and also said he had been put under immense pressure by team management in recent times.
Chanderpaul also slammed the WICB for its treatment towards him after he was injured on the last tour of Australia, as he defended himself against a lack of discipline and application.
He will be a welcome presence in a side whose batting struggled during the one-day series, with just two batsmen getting over 100 runs.
Brathwaite, meanwhile, has been called up following a superb series for West Indies Under-19s against Australia Under-19s on the recent successful tour of Dubai.
The 18-year-old right-hander hit a fine, unbeaten 168 in the three-day “Test” against the Aussies to lead his side to a four-wicket win.
Edwards, who has not played for West Indies in two years because of injury, returned to first class action for Barbados this season to take 22 wickets and is tipped to make a return to Tests.
The players will participate in a two-day match tomorrow and Monday at the Demerara Cricket Club ground following which a 13-man squad will be selected.
The first Test of the two-match series starts here next Thursday.
SQUAD – Darren Sammy, Carlton Baugh, Devendra Bishoo, Kraigg Brathwaite, Darren Bravo, Shivnarine Chanderpaul, Fidel Edwards, Brendan Nash, Ravi Rampaul, Kemar Roach, Andre Russell, Marlon Samuels, Ramnaresh Sarwan, Lendl Simmons, Devon Smith.
