CPL stars Hayden Walsh Jr and Brandon King earn maiden West Indies call-ups

Walsh Jr was the top wicket-taker in this year's Caribbean Premier League, while Brandon King was the top run-scorer

Hayden Walsh Jr, the leg-spinner who ended the Caribbean Premier League as the competition’s top wicket-taker, has been rewarded for his fine displays with a call-up to West Indies’ tour of Afghanistan.

The 27-year-old has played international cricket for USA but reportedly turned down the offer of a central contract from USA Cricket earlier this year. He was absent from USA’s recent Cricket World Cup League Two tri-series against Papua New Guinea and Namibia, remaining instead with Barbados Tridents.

He is joined in the squad by Brandon King, the standout batsman from this year’s CPL with Guyana Amazon Warriors. King made an eye-catching century against Walsh Jr’s Tridents team in the qualifier for the final.

West Indies will face Afghanistan in Dehradun in three T20Is, three ODIs and a Test.

He said of his maiden call-up: “These moments are what you work towards as a player. It was always a dream to represent the West Indies. I’m really excited to get started on the upcoming tour.”

Walsh Jr, whose father opened the batting for the Leeward Islands, added: “My mind flashed back to when we (my brother and I) played in the yard with my father, and we were imagining what roles we would play in the West Indies team. Today, my dream is reality.”

Romario Shepherd, who also enjoyed a fine campaign with Amazon Warriors, has also been called up to the ODI squad, while there is an international return for Lendl Simmons. The 34-year-old had not been picked in a West Indies squad since 2017 and, initially, was not selected in the CPL draft.

Kieron Pollard, who was recently announced as the captain of the white-ball sides, takes the reins, while Carlos Brathwaite – the previous incumbent of the T20 captaincy – is left out of all three squads. Andre Russell, who has been fighting injury issues for some time, and Chris Gayle are also absent as discussion over their international future continues.

^{Chris Gayle has been left out of all three squads}

T20I squad: Kieron Pollard (c), Nicholas Pooran, Evin Lewis, Shimron Hetmyer, Sherfane Rutherford, Brandon King, Fabian Allen, Jason Holder, Hayden Walsh Jr., Lendl Simmons, Khary Pierre, Sheldon Cottrell, Denesh Ramdin, Kesrick Williams, Alzarri Joseph.

ODI squad: Kieron Pollard (c), Shai Hope, Evin Lewis, Shimron Hetmyer, Sunil Ambris, Nicholas Pooran, Brandon King, Roston Chase, Jason Holder, Hayden Walsh Jr., Khary Pierre, Sheldon Cottrell, Keemo Paul, Alzarri Joseph, Romario Shepherd.

Test squad: Jason Holder (c), Shai Hope, John Campbell, Kraigg Brathwaite, Shimron Hetmyer, Shamrah Brooks, Roston Chase, Shane Dowrich, Sunil Ambris, Jomel Warrican, Rahkeem Cornwall, Kemar Roach, Keemo Paul, Alzarri Joseph