McCoy replaces injured Holder in WI 15 for T20 World Cup

ST JOHN'S, Antigua (CMC):

West Indies bid to win their third ICC Men's Twenty20 World Cup and become the first team to do it on home soil hit a snag when all-rounder Jason Holder was ruled out of the tournament because of an injury.

Cricket West Indies (CWI) did not specify the injury or the length of recovery time the 32-year-old Barbadian will require, but they indicated that left-arm fast bowler Obed McCoy will be his replacement in the final 15-member squad for the global showpiece, starting on June 1 in the Caribbean and the United States.

All the teams in the World Cup named provisional squads earlier this month and had until Saturday to make changes, after which they will require approval from the technical committee of the tournament.

According to the CWI media release announcing the final squad, Holder suffered the injury during his five-match stint for Worcestershire in the English County Championship in April-May.

"Jason is an experienced player in our set-up," lead selector Desmond Haynes, the former Barbados opener and West Indies captain, said.

"His absence will undoubtedly be felt both on and off the field. We look forward to having a fully fit Jason with us again soon."

McCoy was the top wicket-taker for West Indies 'A' on their Tour of Nepal in April-May, when he collected eight wickets in five matches at an average of 18.

McCoy will add a tinge more experience to a pace bowling attack led by vice-captain Alzarri Joseph and Guyanese rookie Shamar Joseph, with newly crowned Indian Premier League champion Andre Russell and fellow all-rounder Romario Shepherd for support.

CWI also named the five reserves - left-arm spinner Fabian Allen, wicketkeeper-batsman Andre Fletcher, pacer Matthew Forde, ambidextrous all-rounder Kyle Mayers, and leg-spinner Hayden Walsh Jr - from which Haynes and head coach Daren Sammy will choose in case of injury or exceptional circumstance.

"We are fortunate to have such depth and quality in our ranks," Haynes said. "Our reserve players are all A-class talents who have proven their abilities in various formats of the game, but certainly T20. Each one of them is fully capable of slotting into the team seamlessly should the situation arise."

West Indies will play in Group C of the World Cup with Afghanistan and New Zealand, and two ICC associate teams - Papua New Guinea and Uganda.

Their first two matches in the tournament will be at the Guyana National Stadium, where they face the Papuans on June 2 and take on the Ugandans six days later.

The Caribbean side will complete the group stage against New Zealand on June 12 at the Brian Lara Cricket Academy in Trinidad and Afghanistan five days later at the venue named after their head coach in his homeland of St Lucia.

Before the tournament, the co-hosts will face Australia on Thursday in an official warm-up match at the Queen's Park Oval in the Trinidad capital, Port of Spain, starting at 7 p.m. Eastern Caribbean Time.

Squad: Rovman Powell (captain), Alzarri Joseph (vice-captain), Johnson Charles, Roston Chase, Shimron Hetmyer, Shai Hope, Akeal Hosein, Shamar Joseph, Brandon King, Obed McCoy, Gudakesh Motie, Nicholas Pooran, Andre Russell, Sherfane Rutherford, Romario Shepherd.

Reserves: Fabian Allen, Andre Fletcher, Matthew Forde, Kyle Mayers, Hayden Walsh Jr.