Image Credit- Abu Dhabi T10
For the first time since the 2021 T20 World Cup, Andre
Russell has been included in the West Indies’ T20I lineup. He is part of a
15-man team that will play England in a five-match series in the Caribbean
starting next week.
Russell, 35, has been in the United Arab Emirates for
the past month. On Saturday, his Deccan Gladiators team lost to the New York
Strikers in the Abu Dhabi T10 final. This week, he will reunite with the team
in Barbados, where the first Twenty20 International match will take place at
Bridgetown on Tuesday.
After receiving his first call-up to the ODI team this
month, 21-year-old all-arounder Matthew Forde has also been named in the squad.
Sherfane Rutherford is also back in the mix for the first time since 2020.
After missing the most recent India trip due to
injury, Gudakesh Motie has been called back to the team. Motie made an
impression with his left-arm spin in the second ODI against England in Antigua.
Both Jason Holder and Nicholas Pooran, who haven’t been available for 50-over
selection lately, make a comeback.
The West Indies’ five-match series against the
reigning T20 World Champions, England, serves as a crucial warm-up before they
co-host the next T20 World Cup in June and July 2024 with the USA.
“This will be the final home T20I series for the
West Indies in 2023, as they prepare to be one of the two host teams for the
ICC Men’s T20 World Cup in the West Indies and USA in June 2024,” Desmond
Haynes, CWI’s lead selector, said.
“We have selected a squad that we think gives us
the best chance of success in that tournament. We will continue to assess in
the lead up to the competition.”
West Indies squad Rovman Powell (capt), Shai Hope
(vc), Roston Chase, Matthew Forde, Shimron Hetmyer, Jason Holder,Akeal Hosein,
Alzarri Joseph, Brandon King, Kyle Mayers, Gudakesh Motie, Nicholas Pooran,
Andre Russell, Sherfane Rutherford, Romario Shepherd