Windies sticks with Narine for World Cup

Embattled T&T off-spinner Sunil Narine has been included in the West Indies team for the upcoming World T20 in Sri Lanka, pending test results on an alleged illegal bowling action.

Banned by the International Cricket Council (ICC) and the West Indies Cricket Board (WICB) after he failed his last test on his bowling action, Narine has been doing rehabilitative work and is expected to fly off during the Carnival weekend to Lougborough University, in England to do another test on his bowling action.

If he passes this test, he will take his place in the West Indies squad that will compete in the ICC World T20 in India in March and April.

Today, minister of sport Darryl Smith will host a media conference at his office alongside Suruj Ragoonath, CEO of the Trinidad and Tobago Cricket Board (TTCB) and Narine to announce the Ministry’s assistance to the player in the form of elite rehabilitative coaching. 

According to the TTCB, Narine has been allowed to represent his club, Queen’s Park, in the Premier 1 League competitions as he undergoes rehabilitative work on his action.

In addition to Queen’s Park coach David Furlonge and national assistant coach Kelvin Williams, Narine has also been working with bowling consultant Carl Crowe. 

Crowe is a former right-arm off-break bowler for Berkshire and Leicestershire and former assistant coach of the England Women’s Cricket team. The Ministry’s role in this effort is to facilitate and advance the player’s return to regional and international cricket

Once cleared, Narine will join another six Trinidadians on the West Indies team. The others are Dwayne Bravo, Darren Bravo, Denesh Ramdin, Lendl Simmons, Samuel Badree and Keiron Pollard (pending a fitness test).

The team which is being described as a dangerous one is packed with T20 stars and will be led by the St Lucian Darren Sammy. Also on the team is West Indies Test and ODI captain Jason Holder.

Making a return to the squad is T&T Red Steel spin bowler Sulieman Benn, who missed the tour to Sri Lanka. 

There is no place  for Barbadian Dwayne Smith or T&T’s fast bowler Ravi Rampaul—both of whom were in the team that won the world title in 2012 in Sri Lanka.

West Indies team: Darren Sammy (capt), Lendl Simmons, Andre Fletcher, Darren Bravo, Dwayne Bravo, Keiron Pollard, Marlon Samuels, Denesh Ramdin, Samuel Badree, Sulieman Benn, Sunil Narine, Andre Fletcher, Jason Holder, Jerome Taylor and Carlos Brathwaite.