Russell withdrawn from T20I squad
In a massive blow to the West Indies Russell has been withdrawn from the three-match Twenty20 International series against India on account of an injury, it was announced through a release on Saturday, 3 November, one day before the first match at Kolkata.
Wicketkeeper batsman Shai Hope, who was among the runs during the ODI series, has been added to the squad for the shortest format.
The West Indies will have been looking for contributions with bat and ball from Russell and will now have to find other ways to balance the XI
“We have tried to address our fitness and strength areas but we still have a long way to go” – Windies coach Stuart Law feels the ODI series loss to India was an opportunity missed.#INDvWI 5th ODI REACTION 👇https://t.co/aF0KU0UjXf pic.twitter.com/asXNgXtHpk
— ICC (@ICC) November 2, 2018
Earlier Ashley Nurse also had to be withdrawn from the squad due to a shoulder injury, which he picked after the fourth ODI against India. Regular T20I openers, Chris Gayle and Evin Lewis, have already pulled out of the squad, citing personal reasons in both instances.
Revised Windies squad: Carlos Brathwaite (c), Fabian Allen, Darren Bravo, Shimron Hetmyer, Keemo Paul, Kieron Pollard, Denesh Ramdin, Shai Hope, Sherfane Rutherford, Oshane Thomas, Khary Pierre, Obed McCoy, Rovman Powell, Nicholas Pooran