Sheldon Cottrell, Jamaican left-arm fast bowler, is one of 10 West Indies players who have declined the invitation to join the upcoming Bangladesh tour, citing safety concerns amid the global coronavirus pandemic.
Additionally, compatriot Fabian Allen, an all-rounder, is unavailable due to personal reasons. Nevertheless, Jamaica have a strong showing in the Test squad comprising Jermaine Blackwood, Nkrumah Bonner and John Campbell, plus Andre McCarthy and Rovman Powell who are part of the One Day International (ODI) set up.
The West Indies, who followed up their lacklustre tour of England in July, with a poor showing in their recent whistle-stop in New Zealand, have been dealt a massive blow with Test captain Jason Holder (Barbados) and limited overs skipper Kieron Pollard (Trinidad) also turning down the tour to Bangladesh.
Kraigg Brathwaite, an opening batsman, takes over the Test team from his compatriot Holder with Jamaican batsman Jermaine Blackwood installed as vice captain.
Jason Mohammed is the surprise choice to lead the limited overs side. The former Trinidad & Tobago and West Indies A team captain, who last represented the Windies two years ago, will have batsman Sunil Ambris (St. Vincent) as vice captain.
The other players who have declined the opportunity to tour Bangladesh due to COVID-19 concerns are Darren Bravo (Trinidad & Tobago), Shamarh Brooks (Barbados), Test vice captain Roston Chase (Barbados), Evin Lewis (Trinidad), Shai Hope (Barbados), Shimron Hetmyer (Guyana) and Nicholas Pooran (Trinidad).
Cricket West Indies (CWI) COVID-19 policy permits a player to opt out of an overseas tour over safety concerns, without any impact on future selections.
Both Bravo and Hetmyer turned down the tour to England because of concerns about the potential impact the coronavirus could have on their respective families.
The Windies, who have failed with bat and ball this year, are aiming to improve with a new look squad when they face Bangladesh for five matches in January and February.
The touring party is scheduled to arrive in Dhaka, the largest city in Bangladesh, on 10 January. They will undertake quarantine protocols prior to training and kick-off preparations with a one day warm-up game in Savar, the closest city to Dhaka.
The tour comprises three ODIs and a pair of Test matches in Chattogram and Dhaka respectively. These Tests will form part of the International Cricket Council’s (ICC) World Test Championship, with the trio of ODIs the first matches in their ICC World Cup Super League campaign that offers the opportunity to qualify for the lucrative ICC World Cup 2023.
WI Test squad: Jermaine Blackwood (Jamaica), Nkrumah Bonner (Jamaica), Kraigg Brathwaite (Barbados), John Campbell (Jamaica), Rahkeem Cornwall (Antigua), Joshua Da Silva (Trinidad & Tobago), Shannon Gabriel (Trinidad & Tobago), Kavem Hodge (Dominica), Alzarri Joseph (Antigua), Kyle Mayers (Barbados), Shayne Moseley (Barbados), Veerasammy Permaul (Guyana), Kemar Roach (Barbados), Raymon Reifer (Barbados), Jomel Warrican (St. Vincent)
ODI squad: Sunil Ambris (St. Vincent), Nkrumah Bonner, Joshua Da Silva, Jahmar Hamilton (Anguilla), Chemar Holder (Barbados), Akeal Hosein (Trinidad), Alzarri Joseph, Kyle Mayers, Andre McCarthy (Jamaica), Jason Mohammed (Trinidad & Tobago), Kjorn Ottley (Trinidad & Tobago), Rovman Powell (Jamaica), Raymon Reifer (Guyana), Romario Shepherd (Guyana), Hayden Walsh Jr (Antigua).
| 10 January | Arrival at Dhaka |
| 18 January | One day warm-up match, Savar |
| 20 January | 1st ODI, SBNCS, Dhaka |
| 22 January | 2nd ODI, SBNCS, Dhaka |
| 25 January | 3rd ODI, ZACS, Chattogram |
| 28-31 January | Four day warm-up match, M.A. Aziz Stadium, Chattogram |
| 3-7 February | 1st Test Match, ZACS, Chattogram |
| 11-15 February | 2nd Test Match, SBNCS, Dhaka |