ST.GEORGE’S, Grenada, CMC- Two rising stars in regional cricket, fast bowler Shannon Gabriel and allrounder Christopher Barnwell, have been called up to represent world champions West Indies in the upcoming two-match T20 International Series against Zimbabwe.
Gabriel, the Trinidad and Tobago pacer, is receiving a first-time call up for the T20 format while Guyanese player Barnwell is being recalled for the matches Saturday and Sunday at the Vivian Richards Cricket Ground in Antigua.
Gabriel who played for West Indies against England last year was forced to return to the Caribbean prematurely after suffering back spasms while Barnwell emerged from the Caribbean T20 tournament last month as the leading scorer with 245 runs and six wickets.
The two have been named in a 13-man squad released Tuesday to be skippered by Darren Sammy, who was at the helm when the West Indies won the ICC World T20 title in Sri Lanka last year.
Opening batsman Chris Gayle has asked to miss the T20 Series and has been granted permission, a release from the WICB said.
The West Indies team will assemble in Antigua today and will have training sessions at the Vivian Richards Cricket Ground tomorrow and Friday morning.
FULL SQUAD: Darren Sammy (Captain), Samuel Badree, Christopher Barnwell, Tino Best
Darren Bravo, Dwayne Bravo, Johnson Charles, Shannon Gabriel, Sunil Narine, Kieron Pollard
Denesh Ramdin, Andre Russell and Lendl Simmons.
