Morton in Windies Mini-World Cup Squad

Leewards middle order strokeplayer Runako Morton was named in the West Indies squad for the ICC Champions Trophy (mini-World Cup) ODI tournament in Sri Lanka but the team is notable for quite a few eyebrow-raising omissions.

The squad released on Monday is basically the same team that played the ODI series against New Zealand with the exception of Morton replacing Gareth Breese and the return of Mahendra Nagamootoo, who was injured.

But, there are immediate questions surrounding the names that were missing: Devon Smith, Marlon Samuels and Ricardo Powell.

In announcing the squad, which will be captained by Carl Hooper, the WICB said the Viv Richards-led selection panel was planning to use the upcoming Red Stripe Bowl championship as a yardstick for the squad's selection but because the ICC's August 12 submission deadline was not extended, it was impossible to wait.

Also missing from the squad were Nixon McLean and Vasbert Drakes, whose names were being mentioned in some circles because of their availability for the upcoming Red Stripe Bowl. Instead, the selectors have persisted with pacers Corey Colley and Cameron Cuffy, two bowlers with a history of major injuries.

WEST INDIES 14-MAN SQUAD
Carl Hooper (captain), Shivnarine Chanderpaul, Pedro Collins, Corey Collymore, Cameron Cuffy, Mervyn Dillon, Chris Gayle, Ryan Hinds, Wavell Hinds, Ridley Jacobs, Brian Lara, Runako Morton, Mahendra Nagamootoo, Ramnaresh Sarwan.