Keemo Paul and Gudakesh Motie named in West Indies squad for World Cup Qualifier
Hetmyer continues to miss out; the squad for UAE series includes four uncapped players
ESPNcricinfo staff
12-May-2023
Keemo Paul has recovered from his injury • AFP/Getty Images
West Indies have named allrounder Keemo Paul and left-arm spinner Gudakesh Motie in the squad for the 2023 ODI World Cup Qualifier in Zimbabwe as well as the three-match series against UAE before that. Both Paul and Motie last played an ODI in July 2022 and were forced to miss the subsequent New Zealand series with injuries.
Shimron Hetmyer, meanwhile, did not find a place in either squad.
The roster for the UAE series, which will form part of the preparations for the qualifiers and will be played in Sharjah, also includes four uncapped players - left-hand batter Alick Athanaze, as well as allrounders Kavem Hodge, Dominic Drakes and Akeem Jordan.
Paul had recently returned to domestic cricket, scoring 53 runs and taking five wickets for Guyana against Trinidad & Tobago in the four-day West Indies Championship in March. He is currently with Lucknow Super Giants as a net bowler in the IPL.
"Paul is a three-dimensional player, who can bowl the new ball effectively, he is dynamic in the outfield and he can also make vital runs," lead selector Desmond Haynes said. "He is now fully recovered from injury and with his skill set, we see him as a potential match-winner for us.
"Motie was excellent in the Test matches in Zimbabwe earlier this year, where he took 19 wickets, and we anticipate similar conditions for the qualifiers. We believe he will again relish the chance to bowl in those conditions. He is also a capable batsman and good in the outfield."
Shai Hope will lead the side in both assignments. Brandon King will be his deputy for the UAE series, with Rovman Powell, who is currently playing in the IPL for Delhi Capitals, taking over for the World Cup Qualifier.
Apart from Powell, Jason Holder, Akeal Hosein, Alzarri Joseph, Kyle Mayers, Nicholas Pooran, Romario Shepherd and Paul are the others from West Indies' IPL contingent who are part of the World Cup Qualifier squad. All of them have been given permission to return to the Caribbean for a short break before arriving in Zimbabwe.
"We see this as a crucial tournament as we look to secure one of the two places left in the ICC Men's Cricket World Cup 2023 in India," Haynes said. "Therefore, we have selected a balanced team which we believe is well-equipped to get the job done in the conditions we anticipate in Zimbabwe. It will be a challenging tournament, it will be intense and competitive, there is no doubt about that. In speaking to the players, they are fully aware of the job at hand. We are happy with the preparations and the mindset of the players, and everyone is clear about their roles in the squad.
"For the matches against the UAE in Sharjah, this presents a chance for some other players who are not in the squad for the qualifiers to get an opportunity at the international level as we look to expose more players."
Squad for UAE series: Shai Hope (capt), Brandon King (vice-capt), Alick Athanaze, Shamarh Brooks, Yannic Cariah, Keacy Carty, Roston Chase, Dominic Drakes, Kavem Hodge, Akeem Jordan, Gudakesh Motie, Keemo Paul, Raymon Reifer, Odean Smith, Devon Thomas
Squad for World Cup Qualifier: Shai Hope (capt), Rovman Powell (vice-capt), Shamarh Brooks, Yannic Cariah, Keacy Carty, Roston Chase, Jason Holder, Akeal Hosein, Alzarri Joseph, Brandon King, Kyle Mayers, Gudakesh Motie, Keemo Paul, Nicholas Pooran, Romario Shepherd