Darren Sammy remains Test and T20 captain
– WICB announces Champions Trophy squad
St John’s, Antigua – The West Indies Cricket Board today announced Dwayne Bravo as West Indies One Day International captain.
The Selection Panel recommended to the Board of Directors that Bravo be appointed captain as the West Indies One Day International Cricket Team and the Board of Directors approved the recommendation.
The Selection Panel has also indicated that Darren Sammy will be retained as West Indies Test and Twenty20 International captain.
Chairman of the Selection Panel, Clyde Butts explained the recommendation of the Selection Panel:
“Our results in Tests and T20s have been showing consistent improvement and Sammy deserves every kudos for the work he has done in leading and moulding the team in these formats. We remain confident in his leadership in these formats and will recommend that he continues as the captain for Test and T20 cricket. However our ODI results have not been as strong and we believe that it is best that we freshen the leadership of the team in this format,” Chairman of the Selection Panel Clyde Butts said.
“Dwayne Bravo is an experienced, seasoned and senior cricketer who has demonstrated leadership qualities. He has served as West Indies Vice Captain and has had some success when he has led the West Indies team on occasion. We believe that his transition to the position of captaincy will be a smooth one. The Selection Panel therefore recommended to the Board of Directors that Bravo be appointed captain and we are pleased that the Board has approved the recommendation,” Butts added.
“We have every confidence in Bravo as the leader of the ODI team and while his first assignment – the Champions Trophy – will be a challenging one we believe he will receive the full support of the players and the Team Management for a successful campaign. The decision will also allow Sammy to focus on the Test and T20 formats as captain while he will remain in consideration for One Day cricket as an all-rounder,” Butts added.
Bravo said he was honoured to be appointed West Indies captain.
“To be named captain of the West Indies One Day Team is one of the highest honours and I am truly humbled to have been appointed to this most prestigious position. I am really looking forward to the opportunity to lead a great team that has a combination of young talent and experienced players,” Bravo said.
“I must say congratulations to Sammy in his leadership of the team and I am very happy to be taking over from him. I am even happier that he remains in the team and I am looking forward to working with him along with the Team Management and all the players, especially Vice Captain Denesh Ramdin, Chris Gayle, Ramnaresh Sarwan, Kieron Pollard and Marlon Samuels,” Bravo added.
“The brand of cricket that I intend to bring is a never-say-die attitude and I am really looking forward to the opportunity,” Bravo said.
Sammy congratulated Bravo and said he will give the new ODI captain his full support.
“I congratulate Dwayne Bravo and give him my full support as he leads the ODI team and he can be assured of my unwavering commitment to the team and our plans to be champions of One Day cricket,” Sammy said.
Following is the West Indies squad for ICC Champions Trophy:
1. Dwayne Bravo – Captain
2. Denesh Ramdin – Vice Captain/Wicketkeeper
3. Tino Best
4. Darren Bravo
5. Johnson Charles
6. Christopher Gayle
7. Jason Holder
8. Sunil Narine
9. Kieron Pollard
10. Ravindranath Rampaul
11. Kemar Roach
12. Darren Sammy
13. Marlon Samuels
14. Ramnaresh Sarwan
15. Devon Smith
Commenting on the squad, Butts said that it was one which has a strong combination of experience and up-and-coming talent which is capable of doing well in the tournament.
“We have some of the most accomplished cricketers in the world along with some young talent who have shown tremendous promise and quality and we believe that the team will gel well, play as a unit and do the Caribbean proud,” Butts said.
“We have shown confidence in the players who have served well in both the batting and bowling departments and have identified some young players such as Jason Holder and Johnson Charles who add quality to the squad,” Butts said.
Kieran Powell was not considered for selection due to a finger injury.
Dwayne Bravo ODI career stats
Dwayne John Bravo
DoB: October 7, 1983
Age: 29 years old
ODI debut: April 18 2004 at Bourda, Guyana v England
ODI Matches: 137
Runs: 2311
Highest score: 112*
Wickets: 160
Best Bowling: 6/43