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Axed Brathwaite clarifies IPL arrival

WT20 final star confirms he didn't forsake national duties in leaving Caribbean for start of lucrative T20 tournament

Destructive allrounder Carlos Brathwaite has moved to clarify he has not turned his back on the West Indies after fronting up for his Indian Premier League side Delhi Daredevils this week.

Brathwaite wasn't included the Windies' one-day international squad to face Pakistan in a three-match series beginning on Friday.

And after reports suggesting he'd chosen to go to India for the lucrative T20 tournament rather than play in the ODI series, the 28-year-old took to social media to explain he'd been dropped.


Windies coach Stuart Law confirmed he had in fact been omitted, with the former Australia batsman suggesting Brathwaite's fitness needs work.

"We just thought the opportunity was there for Carlos to go away and work on a few aspects of his game," Law said.

"Namely his fitness and his bowling, getting back bowling to how he wants to bowl.

"He has been left out for those reasons and it's just coincided that the IPL is there and we have no cricket after this ODI series, and he hasn't been part of the last Test series."

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But Law also said the IPL would provide Brathwaite with an excellent opportunity to work with Delhi mentor and India great Rahul Dravid on his batting.

"The selectors gave him the option of going to the IPL, which I think is a good thing," the Queenslander continued.

"(He will) get to talk to guys like Rahul Dravid and learn how to play spin and he'll get plenty of practice over there with all the net bowlers that are available.

"He should be able to get some very decent work in, work on his fitness and work on his bowling."

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Brathwaite has been a mainstay of the Windies' one-day side over the past 18 months, playing in 19 of their 20 most recent 50-over matches.

Best known for his final-over heroics in last year's World T20 final, he was appointed as the Windies' T20 captain following Darren Sammy's contentious sacking and led the side in their four-T20I series against Pakistan that concluded on Sunday.

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Coming off a 0-3 ODI series defeat to England, the Windies also dropped opener Kraigg Brathwaite from their 13-man squad to face Pakistan.

Fast-bowler Shannon Gabriel and wicketkeeper Chadwick Walton both earned recalls, with all three games to be held in Guyana.

West Indies ODI squad to play Pakistan: Jason Holder (capt), Devendra Bishoo, Jonathan Carter, Miguel Cummins, Shannon Gabriel, Shai Hope, Alzarri Joseph, Evin Lewis, Jason Mohammed, Ashley Nurse, Kieran Powell, Rovman Powell, Chadwick Walton