Narine included in Windies 15-man WC squad

Spin bowler Sunil Narine was included in the West Indies final 15-man World Cup squad, despite not having bowled a ball in a competitive match since last September, after his action was cited as being suspect.

Narine was cited playing for the Kolkata Knight Riders in the Champions League T20 tournament in India, and did not play in the final of that event, which KKR lost.

Although Narine was only suspended from BCCI tournaments, the West Indies selectors withdrew him from a subsequent ODI series tour of India last October to avoid any media scrutiny.

Jason Holder was named as captain for the showpiece event, which will be co-hosted by Australia and New Zealand, and, as expected, Dwayne Bravo and Kieron Pollard have been left out.

Batsman Darren Bravo, who is missing from the current tour of South Africa due to personal reasons, finds a place in the squad, as does fast bowler Kemar Roach, who returned home from South Africa with an injury.

The squad includes five allrounders, three specialist batsmen, four fast bowlers, two spinners and a wicketkeeper.

Chief selector Clive Lloyd said via a WICB media release: "I believe we have selected a very good team which will do West Indies proud at the World Cup.

"We have a good mixture of some good seasoned players and some good youngsters who will fly the West Indies flag in Australia and New Zealand.

"If they play to their potential I am quite sure we will do very well. I have really high hopes in this team – I believe they can do something special. We have the talent and if we can play to our potential we have a very good chance of lifting that trophy."

The Caribbean Islanders are in Pool B and open their campaign against Ireland at the Saxton Oval in Nelson, New Zealand on 16 February.

West Indies squad: Jason Holder (captain), Marlon Samuels, Sulieman Benn, Darren Bravo, Jonathan Carter, Sheldon Cottrell, Chris Gayle, Sunil Narine, Denesh Ramdin (wk), Kemar Roach, Andre Russell, Darren Sammy, Lendl Simmons, Dwayne Smith, Jerome Taylor

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