West Indies fast bowler Shannon Gabriel has earned a recall to the ODI side for the upcoming series against South Africa, CWI confirmed on Monday (February 20) while naming the white-ball squads.
Gabriel, who made his comeback to international cricket recently during the Zimbabwe Tests, hasn't played for West Indies in the 50-over format post the 2019 World Cup. The 34-year-old was the joint-leading wicket-taker in the Super50 Cup in November last year and has been rewarded for his excellent form.
"We have had some injuries to our fast-bowling pool so therefore we see Gabriel as an ideal fit heading into South Africa, and the surfaces we expect to play on," lead selector Desmond Haynes said on Gabriel's inclusion.
"It is felt that we need someone to get those early wickets and he is the kind of bowler that can do that. For the T20Is, we have an experienced squad. What we are looking for is to form a cohesive unit and look at the players who we believe can form the nucleus as we build towards doing very well and challenging when we host the ICC Men's T20 World Cup in June 2024."
CWI also confirmed that fast bowler Jayden Seales was unavailable as a result of a knee surgery and Anderson Phillip was not considered despite returning to training given he hasn't regained match fitness. Obed McCoy will be available for the T20Is subject to medical clearance. Spin-bowling allrounder Roston Chase, who hasn't featured in ODIs for more than a year, has made a comeback to the 50-over setup.
The series will see Shai Hope lead the ODI side for the first time since being named skipper. Rovman Powell, who will lead the T20I side, will be Hope's deputy in the 50-over format. Allrounder Kyle Mayers will be Powell's deputy in the T20 format.
Even though West Indies failed to make it to the Super 12 stages of the T20 World Cup in Australia recently, the selection panel has made only a solitary change to the squad. Bowling allrounder Romario Shepherd has replaced top-order batter Evin Lewis for the three T20Is in South Africa that will be played from March 25-28. The three-match ODI series will be played prior to that from March 16-21.
ODI squad: Shai Hope (Captain), Rovman Powell (Vice Captain), Shamarh Brooks, Yannic Cariah, Keacy Carty, Roston Chase, Shannon Gabriel, Jason Holder, Akeal Hosein, Alzarri Joseph, Brandon King, Kyle Mayers, Nicholas Pooran, Romario Shepherd, Odean Smith
T20I squad:Rovman Powell (Captain), Kyle Mayers (Vice Captain), Shamarh Brooks, Yannic Cariah, Johnson Charles, Sheldon Cottrell, Jason Holder, Akeal Hosein, Alzarri Joseph, Brandon King, Obed McCoy, Nicholas Pooran, Raymon Reifer, Romario Shepherd, Odean Smith