Bridgetown (Barbados): The Cricket West Indies (CWI) selection panel has brought in newcomer and off-spinner Kevin Sinclair in the squad for the three-match ODI series against New Zealand beginning August 17, while left-arm spinner Gudakesh Motie has also been named in the 14-member squad but will have to undergo a fitness assessment on the finger injury sustained against India in the ODI series in Trinidad last month.
Sinclair had made his international debut in T20I cricket last year against Sri Lanka and has so far played six games in the shortest format.
All three ODIs will be day/night matches played at Kensington Oval in Barbados on August 17, 19 and 21.
The three matches are West Indies’ last remaining fixtures in the ICC ODI Super League as the Caribbean side aims to automatically qualify for the 2023 World Cup in India. West Indies will be seeking to win the series to secure one of the automatic qualification places reserved for the top-seven teams in the ODI Super League table, excluding hosts India.
All-rounder Roston Chase is unavailable for selection due to injury, while fellow all-rounder Fabien Allen is also unavailable for personal reasons.
“As we stated before, we are looking to broaden the pool of players and we have decided to give Sinclair an opportunity in the ODI series against New Zealand. He has been in the system for a while and was also in the ‘A Team’ to play against Bangladesh ‘A’ in the upcoming series. We believe with his calm approach and skills he will do well in the matches against New Zealand,” said CWI chief selector Desmond Haynes.
“New Zealand is a very good cricketing nation, and this will be a very competitive series. We have the confidence in the players selected that they will do very well. This is the last series of the international season at home, and it would be good to end with some solid performances as we continue to build towards the ICC World Cup in India next year,” he added.
The squad: Nicholas Pooran (Captain), Shai Hope, Shamarh Brooks, Keacy Carty, Shimron Hetmyer, Jason Holder, Akeal Hosein, Alzarri Joseph, Brandon King, Kyle Mayers, Gudakesh Motie (subject to fitness), Keemo Paul, Jayden Seales, Kevin Sinclair.
–IANS