Pollard, Ramdin dropped from ODI squad

West Indies have dropped Kieron Pollard and Denesh Ramdin from their ODI squad for next month’s tri-series in Zimbabwe, which also features Sri Lanka. Courtney Browne, the head of West Indies’ selection committee, informed Pollard and Ramdin about their axing via email.

The emails, accessed by ESPNcricinfo, were sent by Browne earlier this week. Browne’s message to both players was straightforward, saying they had been dropped and telling them they were free to seek clarification from him or the selection panel if they wanted. Considering the squad has not been officially announced yet, ESPNcricinfo sought a comment from the WICB on Wednesday, but the board did not respond.

Both Pollard and Ramdin had poor returns in the recently concluded limited-overs series against Pakistan in the UAE. Pollard managed 43 runs in the three T20s, and bowled two overs, going wicketless.

In the three-match ODI series, which West Indies lost 3-0, Pollard scored 42 runs at an average of 14.00. He took one wicket in the 12 overs he bowled across the three matches.

Ramdin, who was recalled to the ODI squad, compiled 79 runs at 26.33 in the three ODIs and did not feature in the T20s. Browne’s selection panel had dropped Ramdin from the squad for the four-Test series at home against India earlier this year. Ramdin made the news public on Twitter before the squad was announced, and was subsequently sanctioned by the WICB.

Ramdin has endured difficult times in the past 18 months. Despite helping West Indies level the Test series 1-all at home against England, Ramdin was stripped of Test captaincy immediately after the 2-0 home Test series loss to Australia.

Pollard, meanwhile, has had mixed returns since returning from knee surgery last November. Pollard was picked for the tri-series at home in June, involving Australia and South Africa, and was instrumental in West Indies finishing as runners-up, scoring 205 runs at 41.00 including two half-centuries.

Browne, who replaced former West Indies captain Clive Lloyd as chairman of selectors in June, has taken some bold decisions during his short tenure, including dropping Darren Sammy after he had led West Indies to their second World T20 title.

Sammy did not hide his frustration when he called the symposium organised by the WICB and the West Indies Players’ Association in July, to clear the differences between the board and the players, a “publicity stunt” on his Twitter account. (ESPNCricinfo)

Photo caption: Kieron Pollard (left) and Denesh Ramdin