Andre Russell recalled to West Indies T20 squad for Sri Lanka tour after 18 months' absence

The 31-year-old allrounder, who last donned maroon during last summer's World Cup, is one of five players added to the squad for next month's series

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Andre Russell has been named in a West Indies squad for the first time since last summer's World Cup ahead of pair of T20 encounters with Sri Lanka next month.

The Pallekele fixtures will give the short-form specialist his first international opportunities since a recurrent knee injury curtailed his World Cup campaign after just four outings, and potentially his first outing in international T20 cricket since August 2018.

After clearing fitness assessments in his native Jamaica, the 31-year-old is one of five players added to Phil Simmons' setup as preparation continues for October's T20 World Cup in Australia, where the side will look to defend the title won at home in 2016.

Shai Hope, who scored 115 in the team's ODI opener in Colombo yesterday, also earns a recall after missing out on January's tied home series with Ireland, while Oshane Thomas has been cleared to participate in the series following a car accident in his native Jamaica last week.

Spin-bowling allrounder Fabian Allen is also added to the side ahead of his stint with the Pakistan Super League's Multan Sultans, while Shimron Hetmyer has also been given the green light after missing out on ODI selection due to sub-par fitness levels.

Roger Harper, the lead selector at Cricket West Indies, commented: "I look forward to the team building on its recent performances and winning the T20 series in Sri Lanka.

"This is another opportunity for the team to build on its strengths and identify areas that need improving while continuing the process of building-up with the aim of peaking for the T20 World Cup in October."

^{Evin Lewis is one of four players dropped from the squad that played Ireland in January}

The quintet are drafted in to replace Evin Lewis, Khary Pierre, Sherfane Rutherford and Romario Shepherd from the West Indies' previous T20 outing against Ireland last month.

Lewis, who was named player of the series in the preceding ODIs and scored 46 in the team's series-levelling T20 win, remains absent from the tour after failing to meet "the new minimum standard fitness requirements" imposed by the board.

"Andre will add potency to every department of the team. Oshane Thomas appears to be focused and raring to go. He will add pace and penetration to the bowling unit," Harper added.

"Shai Hope provides an opening option and cover as a back-up wicket-keeper also.

"Fabian Allen returns from the injury he sustained in the series against Afghanistan late last year. He will provide a spin bowling option as well as adding depth to the batting group." 

T20 squad: Kieron Pollard (c), Fabian Allen, Dwayne Bravo, Sheldon Cottrell, Shimron Hetmyer, Shai Hope, Brandon King, Nicholas Pooran, Rovman Powell, Andre Russell, Lendl Simmons, Oshane Thomas, Hayden Walsh, Kesrick Williams