ST GEORGE'S, GRENADA // The West Indies leave out their leading players for the first two one-day internationals against Bangladesh because of an ongoing dispute between the country's cricket board and players' association. Former captain Chris Gayle and senior players Shivnarine Chanderpaul, Ramnaresh Sarwan, Dwayne Bravo and Jerome Taylor are all part of a widespread boycott by the region's top cricketers.
The home team was forced to field a below-strength team in the two-Test series that ended on Monday with a 2-0 sweep for Bangladesh. The West Indies squad for the opening one-day matches, beginning in Dominica on Sunday, featured eight players who were chosen in the Test squad. Left-handed batsman Floyd Reifer retains the captaincy despite scores of 25, 29, 1 and 3 in the two Tests. All-rounder Darren Sammy, a standout in the series with two five-wicket hauls and useful runs, is again Reifer's deputy. With a number of players unavailable, there were recalls for the Grenadian trio of batsmen Devon Smith and Andre Fletcher and leg-spinning all-rounder Rawl Lewis.
Three players from the Leeward Islands also win their first senior recognition. Wicketkeeper Devon Thomas and left-handed batsman Kieran Powell, both 19, and the powerfully-built fast bowler Gavin Tonge, 26. Bangladesh announce that their captain Mashrafe Mortaza will miss the one-day matches following the injury to his right knee suffered in the first Test in St Vincent 10 days ago. All-rounder Shakib-al-Hasan, who led the side in Mortaza's absence in the second Test, has been appointed skipper for the rest of the tour. The visitors have been boosted by the arrival of left-arm spinner Abdur Razzak, left-arm seamer Syed Rasel and all-rounder Naeem Islam.
Shahadat Hossain, Enamul Haque Jr and Saghir Hossain, part of the Test squad, are axed from the one-day squad and will fly home with Mortaza. * AP
