Veteran hard-hitting opener Chris Gayle has been recalled to the West Indies One-Day International (ODI) 14-man squad for the first time in seven months for the first two games of the five-match series against England later this month.
Gayle, will be joined by his opening partner Evin Lewis, following a similar length of absence, while uncapped attacking left-hander Nicholas Pooran is set to make his debut in the 50 overs format.
Off-spinner Ashly Nurse is the fourth change, returning after recovering from injury.
Chanderpaul Hemraj, who scored 12 runs in two innings against Bangladesh, has been dropped along with fellow batsmen Kieran Powell and Sunil Ambris, as well as Carlos Brathwaite.
Veteran batsman Marlon Samuels has been omitted from the squad due to injury.
The series is the penultimate before the ICC World Cup in May in England.
Chief selector Courtney Browne said it would provide an ideal gauge of the squad’s preparation.
“We welcome the return of Gayle, who missed the last two series and Nurse from injury. We are pleased to introduce Pooran to the ODI cricket for the first time,” he said.
Gayle and Lewis featured in the home series against Bangladesh last July but missed the tours of India and Bangladesh later in the year. Both have continued to play in various Twenty20 leagues, however.
The squad is led by Captain Jason Holder.
