Hetmyer informs West Indies of unavailability but returning to IPL

Shimron Hetmyer has informed Cricket West Indies (CWI) that he will not be available to play for the team due to the birth of his first child, however, he has indicated that he will be returning to the Indian Premier League (IPL).

This is according to West Indies Lead Selector, Desmond Haynes, who told a virtual news conference on Monday that they were considering Hetmyer for selection of tours to the Netherlands and Pakistan but he informed them of his decision via email.

It should be noted that Hetmyer left the IPL franchise, Rajasthan Royals for Guyana on Sunday, for the birth of his child and is expected to return to the IPL which concludes on May 29.

“My stuff is still left in the room,” the 25-year-old said in a video posted by Royals, indicating that he will be returning to India to see out the rest of the IPL.

Royals are in third place and are looking like one of the better-placed teams to make the playoffs which are set to begin on May 24.

The West Indies tour commences on May 31 and other West Indian players currently in the IPL will be joining this tour which is followed by Pakistan from June 8.

“All I can do is to give you an honest answer, we got the email from Hetty saying that he is unavailable for selection because of the birth of his child. That is all the information we received so we acted that way; we had considered him for selection and the note stated he was unavailable”, Haynes stated at the virtual briefing just after the announcement of the One-Day International squad on Monday.

CWI Director of Cricket, Jimmy Adams, also participated in the briefing.

According to Haynes, who heads Ramnaresh Sarwan and Head Coach Phil Simmons on the selection panel, “I think if there is anything else you want to know regarding the Hetmyer situation of going back to Rajasthan Royals, I think that is something you will have to discuss with Hetty.”

The former opening batsmen elaborated that they are in dialogue with players but are seeking those who are committed to West Indies cricket.

“I hope that everybody would understand that we are reaching out to these players, as selectors, we want to get the guys involved in West Indies cricket, we want to get results for West Indies cricket and we want to see West Indies cricket improving and we want people to be committed to West Indies cricket.”

These matches are key in West Indies’ hopes of direct qualification for next year’s Cricket World Cup in India.

West Indies are currently not among the spots for direct qualification into the ODI World Cup in India next year. They are tenth on the Super League points table and will need to get the points needed to get among the top seven available spots.

If they fail to achieve direct qualification, they will have to enter the competition via a qualifier tournament, a route the side used to play in the 2019 World Cup in England.

West Indies squad: Nicholas Pooran (capt), Shai Hope (vice-capt), Nkrumah Bonner, Shamarh Brooks, Keacy Carty, Akeal Hosein, Alzarri Joseph, Brandon King, Shermon Lewis, Kyle Mayers, Anderson Phillip, Rovman Powell, Jayden Seales, Romario Shepherd, Hayden Walsh Jr.

West Indies tour of Netherlands

May 31: 1st ODI at VRA Cricket Ground, Amstelveen

June 2: 2nd ODI at VRA Cricket Ground, Amstelveen

June 4: 3rd ODI at VRA Cricket Ground, Amstelveen

West Indies tour of Pakistan

June 8: 1st ODI at Pindi Stadium, Rawalpindi

June 10: 2nd ODI at Pindi Stadium, Rawalpindi

June 12: 3rd ODI at Pindi Stadium, Rawalpindi