Uncapped all-rounder Carlos Brathwaite was named in the West Indies 15-member squad for their upcoming one-day international series in Bangladesh, reports IANS and Cricketworld.com.
The 23-year-old is the only complete newcomer in the squad which will play three ODIs in Bangladesh.
Chris Gayle remained exiled from the side, Dwayne Bravo continues to find it hard to convince the selectors, and Ramnaresh Sarwan was a last-minute withdrawal, following an injury, and was replaced by left-handed opener Kieran Powell.
Brathwaite, a tall, rugged fast bowling all-rounder, got the nod without any regional one-day experience, although he was a more than useful performer for the Combined Campuses & Colleges in the last WICB Regional first-class championship.
He scored 265 runs at an average of 22.08, and grabbed 26 wickets at 19.46 apiece in eight matches, helping the CCC to reach the Final.
Gayle remained on the periphery of the team, following his highly-publicised clashes with the West Indies Cricket Board.
West Indies coach Ottis Gibson demanded a public apology for comments Gayle made in his highly controversial radio interview with Jamaican radio station, KLAS, but the former West Indies captain has refused.
This robs the side of Gayle’s vast experience, particularly with Sarwan sidelined, Bravo out of favour, and Chanderpaul no longer under consideration for the shorter forms of the game.
The 21-year-old Powell attended the recent training camp in Barbados, and replaced Sarwan when it was apparent that the former West Indies captain would be unable to make the trip.
Unconfirmed reports indicated that he had a recurrence of the back injury that sidelined him for close to a year, but it was unclear if he would be considered for the two Tests that follow.
Bravo has gone off the boil in recent times, following a lay-off after surgery on an ankle a couple of years ago, and his star has been eclipsed by his younger brother Darren. He took a questionable, self-imposed break from the game during the last home series against India, and will have to fight to regain his place in the side. With the likes of Andre Russell and Brathwaite in the line-up, his absence may not be too badly missed.
The rest of the players pick themselves, including big-hitting Kieron Pollard and recently capped players Danza Hyatt and Anthony Martin.
West Indies are scheduled to arrive in Bangladesh October 4 for a month-long tour, where they also play two Tests and a Twenty20 International.
The West Indies, currently in England for two Twenty20 Internationals at the Oval, will open their month-long tour of Bangladesh with two practice matches on October 7 and 9 and a Twenty20 International on Oct 11.
Two Test matches are also scheduled to be played, starting on October 21 and 29.
Trinidad & Tobogo wicketkeeper Denesh Ramdin makes a return to the squad having been dropped prior to the World Cup and he replaces Carlton Baugh and also missing from the squad that was originally named to play India earlier this year are Kirk Edwards, Christopher Barnwell and Dwayne Bravo.
-With Agencies/New Age input
