PORT OF SPAIN, Trinidad, CMC – Left-hander Nicholas Pooran has returned for the Twenty20 International series against India starting here Thursday, after being named in a 15-man provisional squad announced by Cricket West Indies yesterday.
The 27-year-old was unavailable for the three-match One-Day International phase of the ongoing tour, as he fulfilled his franchise commitments for Mumbai Indians New York in the inaugural Major League Cricket campaign which wrapped up Sunday night.
Pooran lashed a superb unbeaten 137 in the final to earn MI New York a comfortable win over Seattle Orcas in the Dallas final.
He has been joined by all-rounder Jason Holder who was also unavailable for the one-day series after featuring in the preceding two-Test rubber.
Fast bowler Oshane Thomas has earned a recall after playing his last T20 International 20 months ago while one-day skipper Shai Hope has also found his way back after featuring in the last of his 19 matches, 18 months ago.
Left-hander Shimron Hetmyer, who was recently recalled for the ODI series, is also back in the T20 fold following a year’s absence.
He was picked for last October’s T20 World Cup but sensationally axed from the squad after missing a rescheduled flight to Australia.
“The squad is selected with the next ICC Men’s T20 World Cup in mind,” said lead selector, Desmond Haynes.
“We are looking at various plans as we try to find the right combinations. As we prepare, we are looking to build a unit which we believe can do the job when we host the global event in just under a year.
“We have some match-winners in our line-up and we will look to have the right kind of preparation, starting here in Trinidad on Thursday.
“We also have other players who could come into consideration going forward. With the Caribbean Premier League starting next month, others will come into the reckoning.”
The squad, led by Rovman Powell and including the likes of vice-captain Kyle Mayers and veteran Johnson Charles, is a near carbon copy of the one that won 2-1 away to South Africa earlier this year.
According to CWI, all 15 players will travel for the five-match series, with 13 due to be selected for each game.
Brian Lara Stadium will stage the opener, with Guyana’s National Stadium hosting the next two T20Is on August 6 and 8.
The Central Broward Regional Park Stadium in Florida will be the stage for the series finale, with the last two matches being played there on August 12 and 13.
SQUAD – Rovman Powell (captain), Kyle Mayers (vice captain), Johnson Charles, Roston Chase, Shimron Hetmyer, Jason Holder, Shai Hope, Akeal Hosein, Alzarri Joseph, Brandon King, Obed McCoy, Nicholas Pooran, Romario Shepherd, Odean Smith, Oshane Thomas