NEW FACES

West Indies selectors have opted for some new players for the upcoming tour of Pakistan starting this month .

Several uncapped players have been selected for the series that will feature three One-Day Internationals (ODIs) and three Twenty20s from Dec. 13 to 22 at the National Stadium in Karachi.

Three senior players — allrounder Andre Russell, Evin Lewis and Shimron Hetymer have opted out of the tour for “personal reasons” in the wake of the West Indies ICC World Cup debacle recently.

Also missing from the Twenty20 Internationals squad announced by the Cricket West Indies selection panel are left-hander Chris Gayle, whose place on the side has been questioned in recent months and fast bowler Ravi Rampaul, who was controversially selected to the World Cup squad.

Romario Sheppard and Odean Smith have also been included in the T20 team after being omitted from the World Cup in which defending champion West Indies was eliminated in the second round after failing to win any round.

The uncapped players for the ODIs are batsmen Justin Greaves and Shamarh Brooks, left-arm spinner Gudakesh Motie, who was a traveling reserve for the recent ICC T20 World Cup, and fast bowling allrounder Odean Smith, was selected for the T20 squad for the first time, allrounder Dominic Grakes and Smith were net bowlers before the start of the tournament.

Former captain Jason Holder is being rested for this tour “due to workload management”, while Fabien Allen and Obed McCoy are unavailable due to injury and rehabilitation, CWI  said.

Captain Kieron Pollard will also miss the tour due to injury. Shai Hope will lead the West Indies in the three ODIs, while Nicholas Pooran will captain the side in the three-match T20s.

The ODIs in Pakistan are part of the ICC ODI Super League where points gained work towards qualification for the ICC World Cup 2023.

CWI Chief Selector, Roger Harper said he had high expectations of the addition to both squads.

The ODIs in Pakistan are part of the ICC ODI Super League where points gained work towards qualification for the ICC World Cup 2023.