DUBAI, United Arab Emirates, CMC – Batsman Lendl Simmons has become the latest player to withdraw from the West Indies squad for next week’s Twenty20 World Cup in India.
The 31-year-old has failed to recover from a back injury and missed the ongoing preparation camp here. He will remain in Trinidad and Tobago to recuperate.
West Indies selectors are yet to name a replacement.
Simmons, one of the leading Twenty20 openers, joins Kieron Pollard, Sunil Narine and Darren Bravo, who have all pulled out of the squad.
Pollard withdrew because of injury, Narine requested more time to work on his action while Bravo opted to play for Trinidad and Tobago Red Force in the Regional four-day championship.
The constant withdrawals, coupled with the players’ recent contracts row with the West Indies Cricket Board, had made for a rocky build-up for the team for the March 8 to April 3 ICC tournament.
West Indies play their fourth and final unofficial warm-up against Warwickshire on Sunday before flying to Kolkata on Monday to complete their preparation with official warm-up Twenty20s against Australia and India.
