Mystery spinner returns to squad

Mystery spinner returns to squad
Associated Press / Aijaz Rahi

Trinidad and Tobago mystery spinner Sunil Narine, who pulled out of the World Cup squad to continue work on his bowling action, has been recalled to the One-Day International (ODI) and Twenty20 squads — 13 months after he played his last game for the West Indies — is a huge fillip for the side in the two series against Sri Lanka later this month.

Trinidadian Jason Mohammed has been recalled four years after he made his debut in India, while Jamaican batsman 23-year-old Jermaine Blackwood, who has played in 10 Tests, is poised for his first taste of ODI action.

There are eight changes to the squad, which reached the quarter-finals of the ICC World Cup in Australia and New Zealand this year.

Guyanese leg-spinner Devendra Bishoo, who recently made his Test comeback, has been included four years since playing his last ODI, while Andre Fletcher is back after last playing in 2010.

Fast bowler Ravi Rampaul is back, having not played since October last year.

As expected, no room was found for Trinidadians Dwayne Bravo and Kieron Pollard though their names have been mentioned in the 15-man Twenty20 squad.

Their exclusion from the ODI squad prompted claims of “outside interference” on the selection process from head coach Phil Simmons that led to his suspension last week.

The ODI squad will be led by Test Captain Jason Holder, while the T20 team will be captained by Darren Sammy.

West Indies will play the first two ODIs in Colombo on Oct. 31 and Nov. 4 before closing out with the final game in Pallekele on Nov. 7.

The two T20s are scheduled for Nov. 10 in Pallekele and Nov. 12 in Colombo.