Hemraj, Rutherford and Lewis failed to meet CWI fitness standards

…says Jimmy Adams

By Brandon Corlette

Cricket West Indies (CWI) Director of Cricket, Jimmy Adams, has said the Guyanese duo of Chandrapaul Hemraj and Sherfane Rutherford, along with Jamaican Kennar Lewis, failed to meet CWI fitness standards within the six-month window.

While many would have raised concerns about the rusty Brandon King being selected ahead of his Guyana Amazon Warriors partner Hemraj, Adams said: “There is a six-month window within which players have to achieve the target. Within this window, Chandrapaul Hemraj had not met the standard required, and therefore was not available for selection.”

During the T20 World Cup squad selection, CWI Lead Selector Roger Harper disclosed that Odean Smith and Sherfane Rutherford failed to meet CWI fitness standards, hence their non-selection to the World Cup. However, Smith was declared fit, and selected to tour Pakistan after strong all-round performances.

While refusing to disclose when Smith had met the fitness requirements, Adams noted that, within the six-month window, the big Jamaican had made the fitness standards.

Lead Selector Roger Harper has said it is time for CWI to look forward to what is ahead, and how the squad is being built towards the next World Cup. “We are looking forward to what is ahead of us, and developing a team that is competitive for that World Cup. It is about getting the youngsters now involved at the international level up to speed and playing to the best of their ability,” Harper said during a media briefing.

As CWI Director of Cricket, Adams is also concerned that all those players who are being considered for selection are failing to meet fitness standards. “It is a concern for a while, we see it as too important to leaving it hanging. As soon as we get our Christmas wish-list from the Selection Panel, we want to meet with these players and know how much more support we can give them,” he said.

“We want to sit with these players and find out the challenges, why they are not getting to a certain (fitness) level,” Adams explained.

FULL SQUADS

One-Day International squad to Pakistan: Kieron Pollard (Captain), Shai Hope (Vice Captain), Darren Bravo, Shamarh Brooks, Roston Chase, Justin Greaves, Akeal Hosein, Alzarri Joseph, Gudakesh Motie, Anderson Phillip, Nicholas Pooran, Raymon Reifer, Romario Shepherd, Odean Smith and Hayden Walsh Jr.

T20 International squad to Pakistan: Kieron Pollard (Captain), Nicholas Pooran (Vice Captain), Darren Bravo, Roston Chase, Sheldon Cottrell, Dominic Drakes, Shai Hope, Akeal Hosein, Brandon King, Kyle Mayers, Gudakesh Motie, Romario Shepherd, Odean Smith, Oshane Thomas and Hayden Walsh Jr.

NOTES

Jason Holder is being rested for this tour due to workload management. Fabian Allen and Obed McCoy are unavailable due to injury and rehabilitation.

Evin Lewis, Shimron Hetmyer, Andre Russell and Lendl Simmons are unavailable due to personal reasons.

TOUR SCHEDULE
December 13 – 1st T20I, Karachi
December 14 – 2nd T20I, Karachi
December 16 – 3rd T20I, Karachi
December 18 – 1st ODI, Karachi
December 20 – 2nd ODI, Karachi
December 22 – 3rd ODI, Karachi