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St. John's: Leading West Indian cricketers, including captain Chris Gayle, might have to sit out of the Champions Trophy in September as the country's board has decided to stick to the original 30-man provisional squad which didn't have their names.
The West Indies Cricket Board said the 30 players announced earlier for the Champions Trophy would remain, despite the end of the West Indies Players' Association (WIPA) strike which had resulted in the top players missing the ongoing Bangladesh series in protest.
This would mean that top players like Shivnarine Chanderpaul, Ramnaresh Sarwan and Dwayne Bravo, besides Gayle, who were the leading lights of the pay dispute strike could miss the September 22 to October 5 tournament.
Fast bowler Fidel Edwards and Darren Powell, who also took part in the strike, however, made the cut to the 30-man preliminary squad made up of inexperienced players.
"This squad was chosen from among those players who declared themselves available for selection for the tournament within the deadline date for finalisation of the 30," a WICB media release said.
"Selection of players by the selection committee of the WICB will at all times be made from the pool of players who make themselves available for selection and based on performance, conduct and demonstrated commitment to West Indies cricket."
None of the striking players were included in the ODI squad against Bangladesh, which will be captained by 36-year-old Barbadian Floyd Reifer with Darren Sammy as his deputy.
Gayle and some players had made themselves unavailable for the Bangladesh series over pay and contract issues and resulted in a makeshift Windies side being hastily assembled for the two-Test series against Bangladesh.
Following a meeting between the WICB, WIPA and CARICOM chairman, Guyana's president Bharrat Jagdeo on Tuesday, it was agreed that the players would make themselves available for selection while the outstanding issues were taken to arbitration.
Former Commonwealth Secretary General Shridath Ramphal was appointed as an arbitrator.
Following the end of strike it was expected that leading players would return for Sunday's first One-dayer against Bangladesh after a weakened squad lost both matches of the two-Test series but the WICB did otherwise.
"They (are) not picking us for the first two games; so I guess that sums up the situation," said Gayle.
"They are the boss playing hard ball," he added. The bulk of the 30-man provisional Champions Trophy squad comprises inexperienced players who contested the Bangladesh series, many of whom have precious little international or first-class experience.
