Maraj, Kelly, Simmons to join WI in Sri Lanka

The talented trio were drafted by the West Indies senior selectors, headed by Joey Carew, and they will make up the final composition of the WI team which will play in the two-match Test series and Triangular One-Day Interna-tionals involving India and the host nation.

Following the breakdown in negotiations between the West Indies Cricket Board (WICB) and the West Indies Players Association (WIPA), the WI selectors were asked to select other players to ensure the Board fulfil their Internation-al Cricket Council (ICC) Future Tours Programme.

Maraj and Simmons were outstanding members of the West Indies Youth team (under 19) which finished as runner-up to Pakistan in the ICC Junior World Cup held in Bangladesh last year.

Despite his demanding schedule of studies at the University of the West Indies, St Augustine Campus, Maraj played against Barbados and inspired Trinidad and Tobago to an historic victory over the Barbadians in the 2005 Carib Cup first round encounter at the North Stars ground, St Lucy.

He made a gritty 99 and in the return fixture at the Queen’s Park Oval, he scored another determined half century against the West Indies frontline fast bowlers Fidel Edwards, Corey Collymore and Tino Best.

Simmons belted a double century against eventual Carib Cup champions Jamaica in a second round match at Shaw Park, Tobago, while Kelly was outstanding with both bat and ball and emerged as one of the leading all-rounders in the West Indies first class season.

Kelly was injured and probably missed selection for the One-Day Internationals against South Africa and Pakistan but his chance has arrived to prove himself at the highest level.

The Ceramic MerryBoys allrounder was a member of the triumphant Trinidad and Tobago team which captured the President’s Cup at the Kensington Oval last year.

He played a pivotal role in TT’s success when Daren Ganga lifted the coveted regional limited-overs trophy.

The West Indies Board in a media release stated that with the team assembled to fulfil the obligations pointed out that "this will ensure that players continue to be given an opportunity to earn a living at their chosen career while allowing the WICB to remain a valued partner in the International arena."

Maraj and Simmons leave for England today.

They are expected to join Kelly, who is currently playing League cricket in England, en route to Sri Lanka where they will link-up with other players already there.

The full squad comprise: Shivnarine Chanderpaul (capt), Tishan Maraj, Xavier Marshall, Ryan Ramdass, Narsingh Deonarine, Runako Morton, Sylvester Joseph, Denesh Ramdin, Dwayne Smith, Richard Kelly, Lendl Simmons, Daren Powell, Tino Best, Deighton Butler, Omari Banks and Kerry Jeremy. Manager is Tony Howard and Bennett King coach.