West Indies on Friday called up uncapped fast bowler Ronsford Beaton into their 13-man squad to face Afghanistan in a three-match Twenty20 series next month. The tall 24-year-old fast bowler has so far played 36 T20 matches, with 31 wickets including best figures of 4-9. Test skipper Jason Holder has been rested after a gruelling battle against Pakistan which saw West Indies lose the Test, ODI and T20 series.
"After the T20 Series against Pakistan (which was lost 3-1) we felt that it was important to keep the same group together so that the coaches can continue developing the young players," said Courtney Browne, the chairman of the selection panel. "This coupled with the vast T20 experience of some of our senior players can help us to build a very formidable unit." West Indies, the defending world T20 champions, insisted they will not take Afghanistan lightly, especially as the Asian side are pushing hard to be granted Test match status.
"In developing a high performance unit there is never room for complacency and our expectation is to win against a team that is ranked lower than us in the ICC rankings," added Browne. The three games against Afghanistan will all take place at Warner Park in St Kitts - on June 2, 3 and 5. The two teams will also play three one-dayers later in the month. West Indies squad to face Afghanistan in a three-match Twenty20 series in June:
Carlos Brathwaite (captain), Samuel Badree, Ronsford Beaton, Evin Lewis, Jason Mohammed, Sunil Narine, Kieron Pollard, Rovman Powell, Marlon Samuels, Lendl Simmons, Jerome Taylor, Chadwick Walton, Kesrick Williams.