St. Jones: Aggressive batsman Shimron Hetmyer has also been left out of the West Indies squad for the T20I series against India due to fitness issues. West Indies have picked up the same 16-man squad led by Kieron Pollard that defeated England in the five-match series on home soil for the three-match T20I series starting September 16 in India. All three T20 matches will be played in Kolkata on February 16, 18 and 20. Before this, a series of three ODIs will be played in Ahmedabad on February 6, 9 and 11. West Indies have already declared the ODI squad under the leadership of Pollard.
Pollard, Fabian Allen, Darren Bravo, Jason Holder, Shai Hope, Akil Hossain, Brandon King, Nicholas Pooran, Romario Shepherd, Odeon Smith and Hayden Walsh Jr are included in both the limited overs squads. Hetmyer was not selected in the team again on the basis of fitness. Earlier this month, West Indies head coach Phil Simmons expressed his displeasure over Hetmyer’s approach to fitness. The 25-year-old explosive batsman had failed the fitness test ahead of the series against England. He still did not meet the fitness criteria.
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Chief selector Desmond Haynes said, “The team did well in the T20 series against England and we have decided to stick with this team. He showed amazing skill and passion and we expect him to do the same in India.” All-rounder Odion Smith has been included in the squad despite the recent incident. It was claimed that Smith was being harassed after Rovman Powell was picked in his place in the third T20I against England.
This was claimed in a message sent to the media but the name of the sender is yet to be known. Simmons and Cricket West Indies president Ricky Skerritt called the allegations a malicious attack on the West Indies captain’s credibility and said it was being done to create a rift in the team. West Indies won the five-match series against England 3–2.
The West Indies T20 squad is as follows:
Kieron Pollard (capt), Nicholas Pooran (vice-captain), Fabian Allen, Darren Bravo, Roston Chase, Sheldon Cottrell, Dominic Drakes, Jason Holder, Shai Hope, Akil Hossain, Brandon King, Rovman Powell, Romario Shepherd, Odeon Smith, Kyle Meyers , Hayden Walsh Jr.