Gayle returns to face Indians

ST JOHN'S, Antigua (CMC):

Superstar opener Chris Gayle has been named in a West Indies 13-man squad to face India in the one-off Twenty20 International at Sabina Park on Sunday.

The 37-year-old, the region's most experienced player in the shortest format, has not suited up for West Indies since helping them to the capture of the T20 World Cup in India in April last year.

He was picked in a squad to face the Indians in a two-match T20 series in Fort Lauderdale last August, but never played because of fitness issues.

Chief selector Courtney Browne said Gayle would further strengthen West Indies for the encounter.

MOST PROLIFIC BATSMAN

"We welcome Chris back to the T20 squad. He is the most prolific batsman in this format and will add value to our team at the top of the order," Browne said.

Gayle has played 295 T20s and recently became the first batsman to crest 10,000 runs in the format. His form during the recent Indian Premier League was worrying, however, as he managed a mere 200 runs with a single half century.

For West Indies, he has plundered two centuries, the last coming during the T20 World Cup in the opening match against England.

Gayle is the only change to the squad that swept Afghanistan last month, replacing Lendl Simmons who had scores of six, 17 and 15 in the three-match series.

"This squad has a good mix experience within the batting and bowling it is a well-balanced squad," Browne said.

The last time the two teams met in a T20, West Indies won a nail-biter in Fort Lauderdale by one run.

- SQUAD Carlos Brathwaite (captain), Samuel Badree, Ronsford Beaton, Chris Gayle, Evin Lewis, Jason Mohammed, Sunil Narine, Kieron Pollard, Rovman Powell, Marlon Samuels, Jerome Taylor, Chadwick Walton, Kesrick Williams.