West Indies had announced a 15-member squad for the upcoming ODI series against Netherlands and Pakistan on Few days ago.
However, Key Players of West indies White ball Team, Jason Holder, Shimron Hetmeyer and Evin Lewis have been ruled out of the squad.
According to the West Indies Cricket Board, Jason Holder is playing in the IPL this year and has been rested to manage his work. Meanwhile Shimron hetmayer has not been named in the squad due to the birth of his first child.
Also, opener Evin Lewis is not fit due to failing to meet the required fitness criteria.
Commenting About fitness standards, Cricket West Indies (CWI) Chief selector Desmond Haynes and director of cricket Jimmy Adams lamented the players’ failure to meet “even minimum fitness standards”.
Haynes, said it was always disappointing when the selection panel is unable to choose from the full array of players because of failure to reach minimum fitness standards.
“When you look at the amount of cricket being played around the world, there’s a certain level of fitness that is required,” Haynes said during a virtual news conference on Monday following the announcement of the ODI squad.
“I think that is a standard that you should set as a professional cricketer. I do get concerned when you are selecting a side and not sure if these guys are going to be fit enough to finish the tour. As a professional cricketer, there’s a level of fitness that is required, and all players should try to reach that.”
Adams said it was the player’s responsibility to maintain a certain level of fitness in keeping with CWI’s standards, and there were consequences for contracted players that failed to meet them.
“For contracted players who are unavailable for fitness, there are consequences that are outlined in the contracts,” Adams said.
“We have players who, in our eyes are good enough to be considered for selection who are unavailable because of not even coming in on minimum fitness standards. That is very disappointing. For players who are contracted, that is doubly disappointing.”
“It means we would have made an investment in them going back a year, and we have nothing to show for that investment. It’s something that is concerning to us, and something we have to think very seriously about when we go into the next cycle of contract discussions. I can’t say enough how much we consider this a let-down, not just for the individual, but for the region.”
“It begins with the player. There’s always support that a player needs. All that support can be given, but in a lot of fitness cases we’ve seen in the recent past, the players if they were being honest would say they’d let themselves down.” Adams added
“We want to compete with the best in the world, and we want our players to go out on any cricket field anywhere in the world and know that they’re equals.”
“This is one area we’ve worked very hard on over the last few years, and we’ll continue to keep moving the bar upwards. We believe this is something that doesn’t require as much resources as other areas that players need to improve upon to become world-class.”
Fixtures:
West Indies tour of Netherlands
May 31: 1st ODI at VRA Cricket Ground, Amstelveen
June 2: 2nd ODI at VRA Cricket Ground, Amstelveen
June 4: 3rd ODI at VRA Cricket Ground, Amstelveen
West Indies tour of Pakistan
June 8: 1st ODI at Pindi Stadium, Rawalpindi
June 10: 2nd ODI at Pindi Stadium, Rawalpindi
June 12: 3rd ODI at Pindi Stadium, Rawalpindi
West Indies squad for ODI series against Netherlands and Pakistan: Nicholas Pooran (C), Shai Hope (VC), Nkrumah Bonner, Shamarh Brooks, Keacy Carty, Akeal Hosein, Alzarri Joseph, Brandon King, Shermon Lewis, Kyle Mayers, Anderson Phillip, Rovman Powell, Jayden Seales, Romario Shepherd, Hayden Walsh Jr.