Kieron Pollard, Denesh Ramdin left out of ODI squad

Big news came in from West Indies Cricket Board (WICB) as Kieron Pollard and Denesh Ramdin were omitted from the ODI team. The two heavyweights did not make it to the 15-member squad for Zimbabwe tri-series. The tri-series will feature Sri Lanka, West Indies and hosts Zimbabwe. The squad remains the same that toured UAE for the ODI series against Pakistan except Pollard and Ramdin being left out.

Replacements for Kieron Pollard and Ramdin to be drafted in the squad are Shai Hope and Rovman Powell. Shai Hope impressed everyone with a gutsy 76 in the tour game prior to the first day-night Test against Pakistan. As per the reports by ESPNcricinfo, the WICB chief selector Courtney Browne sent mails to Ramdin and Pollard to inform their exclusion. The players were free to seek clarification on their axing. However, no comments have been made by the duo in this yet.

Their axing could have been the result of a dismal outing for the West Indies team in UAE recently. West Indies faced a 3-0 drub at the hands of Pakistan. Neither Ramdin nor Kieron Pollard impressed on the tour. Being the senior members, a lot was expected from them to deliver. Pollard had a horrid run in the T20Is where he could aggregate only 43 runs in 3 matches. His ODI performance was even worse as he could tally just 42 runs at an average of 14 in 3 outings.

Clearly, this did not go well with the selection committee. West Indies are yet to register a win on their tour having been whitewashed in T20s and ODIs. Denesh Ramdin did not get a go in the T20s but was recalled for the ODIs against Pakistan. He was far from being impressive too. Ramdin scored 79 runs in 3 matches at an average of 26.33.

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The tri-series starts on November 14 with Zimbabwe taking on Sri Lanka. West Indies will play their first match against Sri Lanka on 16 November.

Squad: Suliemann Benn, Carlos Brathwaite, Kraigg Brathwaite, Darren Bravo, Jonathan Carter, Johnson Charles, Shannon Gabriel, Jason Holder (c), Shai Hope, Alzarri Joseph, Evin Lewis, Sunil Narine, Ashley Nurse, Rovman Powell, Marlon Samuels.