DISAPPOINTING.
That’s how West Indies team coach Phil Simmons described matters surrounding the selection of the One Day International team for the tour of Sri Lanka.
The final team has been selected but is yet to be announced but Simmons charged the omission of key players from the fitness testing which preceded the week-long training camp at the 3Ws Oval was a clear indication they would be severely weakened in the limited overs series.
Players such as Kieron Pollard and Dwayne Bravo were not invited to the fitness testing while the training camp was exclusively held for members of the Test squad. It is highly likely they will not be in the final squad for the limited overs series against Sri Lanka.
But off-spinner Sunil Narine and all-rounder Andre Russell, who were in Barbados for the fitness testing, are almost certain to be in the One-Day squad.
“I think it is disappointing from the fact that I haven’t got the best ODI 50 over squad that you can select from the Caribbean. The Chairman, Mr Lloyd, he came and gave an exceptional speech saying he thinks it is time they are in the squad.
“He gave exceptional reasons for them to be back in the squad, but unfortunately when we went in to the selection, we lost 3-2,” said Simmons coolly to reporters this afternoon at the 3W’s Oval.
The West Indies will tour Sri Lanka from October 8 to November 1. (PG)
