Hosein not part of Test squad, Simmons clarifies

By Avenash Ramzan

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Contrary to what was reported in a section of the media on Wednesday, West Indies Head Coach Phil Simmons clarified that left-arm spinner Akeal Hosein is not part of the squad for the third and final Apex Test against England, starting Thursday in Grenada.

In fact, the Trinidadian cricketer was invited to be part of the set-up to aid his own development.

The initial announcement gave the impression Hosein was added to the squad as cover for incumbent left-arm spinner Veerasammy Permaul, who was supposedly nursing a finger injury.

However, Simmons, at a press conference on Wednesday afternoon, brought clarity to the situation and made no mention of an injury to Permaul.

“Akeal is here (in Grenada) just like we (previously) had Oshane (Thomas) and Obed (McCoy). When we see we need to do some extra work with players we tend to invite them to be around the camp and do the work with them then,” Simmons said.

“So Akeal is here because we had a little bit of extra work to do with him, so that’s why he’s here. He has not been added to the squad.”

The three-match Apex Test series is locked 0-0 after absorbing drawn encounters in Antigua and Barbados.