Three Jamaicans included in squad against Pakistan

The West Indies selectors have named three Jamaicans in a 13-man squad for the first Test against Pakistan, which starts on Thursday at Providence in Guyana.



The Jamaicans are batsmen Marlon Samuels and Brendan Nash and wicketkeeper Carlton Baugh Junior.



Samuels is poised to play his first Test in three years following a two-year international ban, while vice-captain Brendan Nash takes up his place in the squad after missing the limited overs campaigns this year.



As expected, fast bowler Fidel Edwards has been recalled following a two-year break. The squad also includes embattled left-hander Shivnarine Chanderpaul.



The unit, with Darren Sammy in charge, was announced late yesterday following the end of a two-day practice match at the Demerara Cricket Club.



Teenaged opener Kraigg Brathwaite and Jamaican all-rounder Andre Russell have been excluded from the 15-man training squad.



Edwards has not played a Test since the nightmare tour of England in 2009 and has not tasted international action for West Indies since the World 20/20 Championship later that same year.



He was kept out by a back injury that required surgery but returned to first class action this year with 22 wickets for Barbados in the Regional Championship.



Meanwhile, Chanderpaul has been included after being overlooked for the five-match one-day series, which finished last week.



He is the most experienced player in the young squad with 9063 runs from 129 Tests and along with fellow Guyanese Ramnaresh Sarwan, will carry the burden of the side’s batting.



The remaining members of the squad are Devendra Bishoo, Darren Bravo, Ravi Rampaul, Kemar Roach, Lendl Simmons and Devon Smith.