Chris Gayle slams selectors for dropping Pollard, Bravo

The West Indies opener Chris Gayle has blasted the West Indies Cricket Board (WICB) and the Clive Lloyd-led selection panel for dropping senior all-rounders Dwayne Bravo and Kieron Pollard from the World Cup squad.

                                        

Gayle termed the move as "ridiculous" and felt it was a case of "victimisation" against the two players.

"How can those two guys not be in the team? To me, it got to be like victimisation when you look at it towards those two guys. Come on, guys. It is just ridiculous," Gayle said.

"Really hurt. Ridiculous. Honestly, it throw me off. We can only talk. We can express our feelings, which I'm doing at this point in time. The squad already is announced. It is just sad."

The 35-year-old also stated that without the duo, the team has become frail.

"We don't have our strongest team without Pollard, nor Bravo. So that is actually sad for us. It is a really big blow for us to actually lose two key players, two key allrounders as well, very good in the outfield," he said.

"I don't know what's the history behind it, but it is a ridiculous selection from my point of view," Gayle added.

The WICB Sunday announced the 15-member World Cup squad to be led by Jason Holder with Marlon Samuels as vice-captain.

No Dwayne Bravo, Kieron Pollard in Jason Holder-led West Indies squad for 2015 World Cup

West Indies have left out all-rounders Dwayne Bravo and Kieron Pollard from their 15-man squad for the World Cup in February and March.

The duo are surprise omissions, but there is a recall for spinner Sunil Narine whose bowling action was deemed illegal during last year’s Champions League Twenty20 competition.

Bravo led the team which abruptly withdrew from a one day series in India last year over a pay dispute and the pullout prompted the Indian board to suspend all future tours with West Indies.

The squad will be captained by 23-year-old Jason Holder, who will lead the side for the first time in their five-match one-day international series in South Africa starting on Friday.

Experienced batsman Marlon Samuels has been appointed vice-captain.

Also returning to the squad is top order batsman Darren Bravo, who had taken time away from the game to address some personal matters.

Fast bowler Kemar Roach has been selected despite after suffering an ankle injury in the recently completed test series against South Africa.

Chairman of the selection panel Clive Lloyd, who won the World Cup in 1975 and 1979, says they believe they have a squad that can win the Feb. 14 – Mar. 29 tournament.

“If they play to their potential I am quite sure we will do very well,” Lloyd said in a West Indies Cricket Board media release. “I have really high hopes in this team – I believe they can do something special.

“We have the talent and if we can play to our potential we have a very good chance of lifting that trophy.”

Squad: Jason Holder (captain), Sulieman Benn, Darren Bravo, Jonathan Carter, Sheldon Cottrell, Chris Gayle, Sunil Narine, Denesh Ramdin, Kemar Roach, Andre Russell, Darren Sammy, Marlon Samuels, Lendl Simmons, Dwayne Smith, Jerome Taylor.