West Indies<\/a><\/strong> will tour South Africa for three ODIs and T20Is each, with the series starting from March 16. The tour also includes two Tests, the squads for which were announced earlier.<\/span><\/p>\nShai Hope will be leading the side for the first time in ODIs while Rovman Powell will be his deputy. On the other hand, Powell will be leading the side in T20Is and will have the support of newly appointed vice-captain Kyle Mayers.<\/span><\/p>\nFast bowler Shannon Gabriel has been recalled for ODIs the back of stupendous performances in the Super50 Cup last November. Gabriel was the joint leading-wicket taker of the tournament while leading the Trinidad & Tobago Red Force bowling attack.\u00a0<\/span>He scalped 15 wickets in seven matches at an average of 14.2. The 34-year-old has returned to the West Indies ODI side after a gap of almost four years, having last played in the ODI World Cup 2019.<\/span><\/p>\nTalking about Gabriel\u2019s inclusion in the squad, Lead Selector Desmond Haynes said that since several bowlers are unavailable due to injury, Gabriel is the perfect fit for South African pitches.<\/span><\/p>\n\u201cWe have had some injuries to our fast-bowling pool so therefore we see Gabriel as an ideal fit heading into South Africa, and the surfaces we expect to play on. It is felt that we need someone to get those early wickets and he is the kind of bowler that can do that. Judging from his performances in the CG United Super50 Cup, he is potentially a wicket-taking option up front,\u201d Haynes was quoted by windiescricket.com.<\/span><\/p>\n\u201cFor the T20Is, we have an experienced squad. What we are looking for is to form a cohesive unit and look at the players who we believe can form the nucleus as we build towards doing very well and challenging when we host the ICC Men\u2019s T20 World Cup in June 2024,\u201d he added.<\/p>\n
Meanwhile, left-arm seamer Obed McCoy has been included in the T20I squad subject to medical clearance. Fast bowler Jayden Seales has been unavailable for selection as he is nursing a knee injury. Further, pacer Anderson Philiip is on his path to recovery but is yet to gain match fitness.<\/span><\/p>\n