Windies stars question Pollard, Narine selection

Senior West Indies players Chris Gayle, Dwayne Bravo and Darren Sammy have expressed surprise at the selection of returning batsman Kieron Pollard and off-spinner Sunil Narine for next month's Tri-Nation ODI Series involving Australia and South Africa in the Caribbean.

Gayle, Bravo and Sammy, who have been overlooked for the series, made their opinions clear on Thursday through their official Twitter accounts, a day after the Clive Lloyd-led WICB Selection Panel named a 14-member squad for the opening four matches.

"Joke of The Day: WI Selectors. One minute Pollard & Narine were not good enough & now are perfect for Tri-Nation Series? It's like Magic!" said Bravo via his official @DJBravo47 account.

QUESTIONS POSED

"One minute we have to be available for domestic Super50 to be selected, and the next minute, it seems we don't. Magic! Get serious people!"

Bravo's comments were then followed by that of Sammy from his account, @darrensammy88.

"@KieronPollard55 great to see you back in ODI team, but tell me, how did u qualify for selection, having not played the Super50 or ODI since 2014," Sammy said.

Gayle, who tweets from @henrygayle, later joined the social media conversations, questioning the validity of the selections.

"@KieronPollard55 & #SunilNarine selected for WI Tri-Series. How is that possible @westindies ?" Gayle quipped.

"If @KieronPollard55 was fit he would've play the (Australia) Big Bash just like the rest of us!! WICB stop Sunil from playing Super50, and now they pick him."

Pollard, in the meanwhile, who along with Narine are apart of a 14-member squad, which was named by the WICB on Tuesday for the first four matches of the Series, replied to Gayle by asking a few questions of his own.

"Bingo, or I should say Pingo ... Numbers shuffled, and up popped P55 (his shirt number)...!! Or, should I lucky days!!" Pollard said from his @KieronPollard55 account.

"Think the truth ... Or, real reasons of expulsion will finally come out???." Have been baffled for 15 months ... Then Pingo (Bingo)."

The power-hitting Pollard and mystery-bowling Narine did not take part in the WICB Super50 one-day tournament, which has become a prerequisite for ODI representation.

The tournament was held in Trinidad and Tobago in January.

Pollard was nursing an injury during the Super50, while Narine was not allowed to play due to an ICC ban for having an illegal bowling action.

DIFFERENT LEAGUE

Bravo, Gayle and Sammy, along with Andre Russell, who has also has been overlooked for the Tri-Nations Series, instead took part in the Australia Big Bash League Twenty20.

The Big Bash League was held during the same period as the Super50.

The 29-year-old Pollard last represented the West Indies in ODI's during their abandoned tour of India in 2014, while 27-year-old Narine last played late last November before he was suspended by the ICC for an illegal bowling action.

Pollard, who returned from the injury last month, and Narine, whose suspension was also lifted last month, are currently taking part in the Indian Premier League.

West Indies ODI Squad: Jason Holder (capt), Sulieman Benn, Carlos Brathwaite, Darren Bravo, Jonathan Carter, Johnson Charles, Andre Fletcher, Shannon Gabriel, Sunil Narine, Ashley Nurse, Kieron Pollard, Denesh Ramdin, Marlon Samuels, Jerome Taylor.