Hetmyer to undergo fitness test; Pooran eager for his return

Shimron Hetmyer is set to undergo a fitness test by Cricket West Indies in the coming days and if successful, it is tipped, he will make a return to the Twenty20 International squad after last featuring at last year’s T20 World Cup.

CWI Lead Selector, Desmond Haynes had indicated Hetmyer was injured and it was a factor for his non-selection for the Bangladesh tour.

However, the dashing left-hander is currently on tour with the squad in Trinidad for the India series, despite not being named in the One-Day International squad.

Captain Nicholas Pooran said he is looking forward to seeing Hetmyer return to the squad, noting he has seen a willingness by Hetmyer to play again.

“He is here doing a lot of work on his fitness and that is really nice to see, the effort that he has been putting in,” Pooran said during a media session on Thursday.

“He wants to play for the West Indies and trainers and coaches working with him, so expect to see him sooner than later.

“I have full confidence that he will be putting on the maroon colours again. He has a fitness test to pass shortly, so he is preparing himself for that.”

In June, Haynes was unable to say definitively when Hetmyer last did a fitness test, but stated it might have been done prior to the Indian Premier League, which started on March 26 and ended May 29.

Earlier in the year, Hetmyer made himself unavailable for West Indies selection due to the birth of his child.

In May, News Room Sport had reported that the CWI Selection Panel was considering Hetmyer for selection of tours to the Netherlands and Pakistan, but he informed them of his unavailability via email.

During his IPL stint, Hetmyer left Rajasthan Royals and returned home to Guyana for the birth of his child and later returned for the latter matches.