Batsman Shai Hope and pacer Alzarri Joseph have not been named in a 15-member West Indies squad which will take on India in the upcoming T20I series. The two changes have been made after the defeat against Afghanistan. Shai Hope, who was named as cover for Denesh Ramdin, played only one T20I in the Afghanistan series and smashed a 46-ball 52. His absence from the squad is the team management’s decision to try out different combinations before the next year’s T20 World Cup in Australia.

He will, however, continue to be as Kieron Pollard’s deputy in the three-match ODI series. Nicholas Pooran, who missed the three T20Is against Afghanistan with a suspension for tampering the ball, will be there for the second T20I. On the other hand, Fabian Allen, who missed Afghanistan series after picking up a knee injury in the first game, has returned to the side as well.

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“In the T20s this will be another chance for them to play and development, and again no disrespect to Afghanistan, this should be a stronger T20 country and we will look to see how they perform against India,” head coach Phil Simmons said.

“The next World Cup is in Australia (2020) and the one after that is here in India (2021) so there is a lot of preparation to be done for first for Australia, so we have given the players here a chance in this series and we know we have players outside who may be coming in later on as well, so it’s good to give those here another opportunity,” he added.

ODI Squad: Kieron Pollard (C), Sunil Ambris, Roston Chase, Sheldon Cottrell, Shimron Hetmyer, Jason Holder, Shai Hope, Alzarri Joseph, Brandon King, Evin Lewis, Keemo Paul, Khary Pierre, Nicholas Pooran, Romario Shepherd, Hayden Walsh Jr.

T20 Squad: Kieron Pollard (C), Fabian Allen, Sheldon Cottrell, Shimron Hetmyer, Jason Holder, Keemo Paul, Brandon King, Evin Lewis, Khary Pierre, Nicholas Pooran, Denesh Ramdin, Sherfane Rutherford, Lendl Simmons, Keserick Williams, Hayden Walsh Jr.