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Chris Gayle, Russell joins Windies T20 squad

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Bridgetown (Barbados): West Indies explosive batsmen Chris Gayle and all-rounder Andre Russell have been taken in the 15-man team squad for the Twenty20 World Cup.

Some media reports on Wednesday announced the squad without Gayle and Russell, sparking some speculation on social media but the Jamaican pair are likely to be named for the March 8 to April 3 tournament, as per reports.

The West Indies Cricket Board has announced the squad that includes embattled off-spinner Sunil Narine who is currently banned from bowling internationally.

However, Narine is expected to undergo testing on his action at Loughborough University in England next month, before confirming his spot on the side.

All eyes will be on Gayle, however, especially after he sparked controversy during the recent Australia Big Bash with his now infamous live television interview where he appeared to openly flirt with Channel TEN’s reporter Mel McLaughlin.

The 36-year-old left-hander has played in every T20 World Cup since the inaugural tournament in South Africa eight years ago, when he announced himself in the format with a stunning hundred against the hosts in Johannesburg.

He has since become arguably the most valued commodity on the global T20 circuit and his presence will ensure the West Indies will be installed as one of the early favourites.

Only recently, he blasted a 12-ball half-century in the Big Bash to equal the record for the fastest ever fifty in T20s.

Russell, meanwhile, has become one of the most sought after T20 players and last year plied his trade in the Indian Premier League, South Africa’s Ram Slam, the Caribbean Premier League, the Bangladesh Premier League and the Big Bash.

He emerged as one of the leading players for Sydney Thunder as they wrapped up the BBL title last week, scoring 185 runs at a strike rate of 186 while taking 16 wickets with his pace bowling.

The Windies squad also sees the return of combative left-arm spinner Sulieman Benn who has not played for the West Indies since last April after being dropped following England’s Test tour of the Caribbean.

Benn, 34, had an outstanding campaign with the ball in the Regional Super50 which wrapped up on Sunday in Trinidad and Tobago, taking 15 wickets to be the tournament’s leading bowler.

All-rounder Darren Sammy, who led the West Indies to the T20 World Cup title four years go in Sri Lanka and into the semi-finals in Bangladesh in 2014, has been re-appointed skipper.

The West Indies are set to play in Group One alongside reigning champions Sri Lanka, South Africa, England and yet-to-be determined qualifier.

The West Indies squad: Darren Sammy (captain), Lendl Simmons, Chris Gayle, Darren Bravo, Dwayne Bravo, Keiron Pollard, Marlon Samuels, Denesh Ramdin, Samuel Badree, Sulieman Benn, Sunil Narine, Andre Fletcher, Jason Holder, Jerome Taylor, Andre Russell.

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Sunil Gavaskar gives his opinion of GT allrounder Rahul Tewatia

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The left-handed batsman from Haryana is garnering praise from all quarters for the way he’s finishing games regularly in the most exciting IPL season.

Gavaskar reckons Tewatia’s whirlwind knock in Sharjah (in IPL 2020) where he smashed West Indies pacer Sheldon Cottrell for five sixes in an over, gave him the confidence that he belongs to the big stage.

Speaking on Cricket Live on Star Sports, Gavaskar said, “That assault on Sheldon Cottrell in Sharjah gave him the belief to do the impossible and the confidence that he belongs here. We saw the impossible (he did with the bat) the other day as well. There’s no twitching or touching the pads (which shows a batter’s nervousness) when he bats in the death overs. He just waits for the ball to be delivered and plays his shots. He’s got all the shots in the book, but most importantly his temperament to stay cool in a crisis is brilliant.”

Gavaskar has also nicknamed the 28-year-old cricketer the ‘ice-man’ and lauded Tewatia’s ability to remain unruffled during the tense moments.

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