Chris Gayle, Shivnarine Chanderpaul and Ramnaresh Sarwan have been dropped for the first two ODIs against Pakistan.
Gayle, Chanderpaul and Sarwan omitted for first two ODIs
Chris Gayle, Shivnarine Chanderpaul and Ramnaresh Sarwan have all been dropped by West Indies for the first two one-dayers against Pakistan.
The experienced batting trio have been left out of the first two contests of the five-match series in order for the side to blood younger players.
The move comes after senior players came in for criticism following the recent World Cup, but is still something of a surprise given the run-making exploits of the three former captains in recent years.
West Indies Cricket Board chief executive Ernest Hilaire says that the set-up is already looking ahead to the next World Cup in Australia and New Zealand.
"With a view to the stated goal of winning the 2015 Cricket World Cup, in the 2011-2012 phase the Selection Committee will expose players to international cricket who could potentially play a vital role in the 2015 Cricket World Cup campaign," Hilaire said.
Meanwhile, uncapped Antiguan leg-spinner Anthony Martin has been included in the squad for the first two one-day internationals, which will be held in St Lucia.
Marlon Samuels is recalled to the ODI squad for the first time since returning from a two-year ban for passing on team information to an Indian bookmaker.
All-rounder Dwayne Bravo is also back in the fold after recovering from the knee injury that brought a premature end to his World Cup campaign.
West Indies squad: Darren Sammy (captain), Dwayne Bravo (vice-captain), Devendra Bishoo, Darren Bravo, Kirk Edwards, Anthony Martin, Ravi Rampaul, Kemar Roach, Andre Russell, Marlon Samuels, Lendl Simmons, Devon Smith, Devon Thomas.
