West Indies captain Denesh Ramdin
ST JOHN’S, Antigua, CMC – Eight players from the controversial tour of India have been included in a full strength West Indies squad announced Wednesday for the tour of South Africa, as selectors moved swiftly to erase any claims of victimisation.
The 15-man contingent will be led by regular captain Denesh Ramdin and includes Darren Bravo, Jason Holder, Leon Johnson, Kemar Roach, Marlon Samuels and Jerome Taylor, all of whom walked off the tour of India in a contracts row with their union, the West Indies Players Association.
However, in a bid to avoid a repeat of the chaotic situation that led to the players’ unprecedented action, the West Indies Cricket Board said it had given the players a week to sign match tour contracts.
“All players selected have been notified of their selection and that their selection is contingent upon their signing of the Match Tour Contract which was sent to each player selected on Tuesday November 11,” the WICB said in a statement.
“The deadline for the return of signed Match Tour Contracts to the WICB is 5pm (ECT), Tuesday, November 18.”