West Indies recall Hetmyer for England tour as Shepherd and Rutherford opt for IPL

Cricket West Indies (CWI) has announced strategic adjustments to its One-Day International squad for the upcoming tours of Ireland and England.

These adjustments were necessitated by the availability of players currently involved in the Indian Premier League (IPL).

John Campbell and Jediah Blades have been called into the squad, while Sherfane Rutherford and Romario Shepherd will remain in India to fulfil their IPL commitments.

Shamar Joseph retains his place in the touring party. John Campbell is set to feature in the Ireland leg of the tour, replacing Sherfane Rutherford.

Shimron Hetmyer, unavailable for the matches against Ireland, is expected to join the squad for the subsequent series against England.

Promising left-arm seamer Jediah Blades comes into the squad as a replacement for Romario Shepherd.

The changes come as CWI closely monitors the situation in India, where the IPL is set to resume on May 17 following a temporary suspension. Regional tensions between India and Pakistan had raised safety concerns for players.

In a statement, CWI emphasized that the “safety and well-being of our players remain our top priority.”

They added, “We are committed to ensuring they feel supported and informed throughout this period.”

CWI is collaborating with the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) and the respective IPL franchises to ensure that “all necessary measures are taken to guarantee the safety, comfort, and peace of mind of our players.”

The regional body expressed confidence in the BCCI’s ability to provide a secure environment for the remainder of the IPL tournament.

Acknowledging players’ individual contractual arrangements, CWI stated they “fully support those players who choose to remain in India to complete the tournament.”

While acknowledging the current circumstances as “exceptional and unforeseen,” CWI remains confident in the depth of its talent pool. It reiterated its commitment to “fielding a strong, competitive squad to represent the West Indies with pride” in the upcoming ODI series against Ireland and England, scheduled from May 21 to June 3.

Romario Shepherd and Sherfane Rutherford are both part of IPL franchises eyeing playoff spots.

The knockout stage potentially clashes with the West Indies ODI fixtures.