West Indies recall Andre Russell ahead of World XI game
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Jamaican all-rounder Andre Russell is set to return to the West Indies team after serving a year-long ban for a doping-code violation in January 2017. He had last played an international match in August 2016 against India.
Russell has been named in the 13-man squad ahead of the Hurricane Relief T20 Challenge, a charity match against an ICC Rest of the World XI.
The match has been organized with the support of the MCC, ECB and ICC to raise funds to rebuild and restore five cricket venues in the Caribbean that were damaged by Hurricanes Irma and Maria last year.
The match is scheduled to take place on May 30, three days after the IPL final. Four of the squad members are currently playing in the league including the captain—Carlos Brathwaite.
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“We welcome the return of the players who missed the Pakistan series and are delighted to recall Andre Russell to the squad, as we believe he will have a key role in our white-ball cricket. Denesh Ramdin and Keemo Paul keep their places after encouraging performances at both regional and international level,” the chairman of selectors Courtney Browne said.
Darren Sammy and Kieron Pollard had led the Carribean Select XI and Trinidad sides in a charity match in October last year. That match was aimed to directly help the communities that had suffered damages. But this time the goal is to help major cricketing centers that were affected.
Cricket West Indies CEO Johnny Grave said: “On behalf of CWI, I'd like to thank the players for their commitment to and support of this vital cause. We're hoping to raise a significant sum from the Hurricane Relief T20 Challenge and are very grateful to the MCC, ECB and ICC, without whom this match would not be taking place.”
West Indies squad: Samuel Badree, Carlos Brathwaite (capt.), Rayad Emrit, Andre Fletcher, Chris Gayle, Evin Lewis, Ashley Nurse, Keemo Paul, Rovman Powell, Denesh Ramdin (wk), Andre Russell, Marlon Samuels, Kesrick Williams