West Windies leave out stars

The West Indies will be without their leading players for the Champions Trophy in South Africa next month.

The West Indies Cricket Board yesterday again left out the players who had chosen to strike during the Test, one-day and Twenty20 series against Bangladesh in July in the Caribbean. Former skipper Chris Gayle, Ramnaresh Sarwan, Shivnarine Chanderpaul, Dwayne Bravo and Jerome Taylor are the main stars absent.

The side will again be led by 37-year-old Floyd Reifer and include two uncapped players in all-rounder Royston Crandon and wicketkeeper Chadwick Walton.
Walton, a Jamaican who represents the Combined Colleges & Campuses, appeared in both Tests against Bangladesh but did not appear in the limited overs matches. Crandon (26) is a hard-hitting right-hander and off-spinner from Guyana.

The West Indies have also recalled fast bowlers Tino Best and Daren Powell.
Best, who played in the Tests against Bangladesh, has not appeared in one-dayers since May 2006. Powell, who declared his unavailability for the Bangladesh series, returns for the first time since March against England in the Caribbean.

Squad: Floyd Reifer (captain), Darren Sammy (vice-captain), David Bernard Jr, Tino Best, Royston Crandon, Travis Dowlin, Andre Fletcher, Nikita Miller, Daren Powell, Kieran Powell, Dale Richards, Kemar Roach, Devon Smith, Gavin Tonge, Chadwick Walton.