Brathwaite named new Windies skipper

Carlos Brathwaite will lead the West Indies in two T20s against India later this month, after being unveiled as the team's new Twenty20 skipper.

Brathwaite, who has played just eight T20Is but was the hero of the Windies' dramatic World T20 final win over England in April, replaces former captain Darren Sammy, who revealed his own sacking via a Facebook video post last weekend.

Sammy has also been dropped from the 13-member squad named by the West Indies Cricket Board for the two T20s against India, which will be played in Florida – at Fort Lauderdale's Central Broward Regional Park – on August 27 and 28.

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The Windies squad includes 11 members of the group who claimed the World T20 title in India, including superstars Chris Gayle, Andre Russell and Dwayne Bravo, while Kieron Pollard and Sunil Narine are back after missing the tournament due to injury (Pollard) and bowling action (Narine) concerns.

"Brathwaite is one of the most talented players in the T20 format of the game and his humble and committed approach to the game can inspire young and upcoming players," WICB Chairman of Selectors Courtney Browne said.

"We are looking forward to a competitive series against India in these matches."

Browne said Sammy's exclusion from the squad was based on performance.

However Sammy said at the weekend he believed his decision to speak out against the WICB was the reason for his axing as captain.

"It's solely because of what I said after the World Cup," Sammy told Caribbean sports channel Sportsmax, who said in the World T20 final presentation that he was yet to hear any words of support from the WICB and even forecast his own possible axing.

"I got a call yesterday morning, it was probably 30 seconds, from the chairman of selectors (Courtney Browne) telling me that they've reviewed the captaincy of T20 and I won't be captain anymore of the T20 team, (and) my performances have not merited selection in the squad," Sammy said in the Facebook video.

"That’s OK, I've always believed West Indies cricket is not about Darren Sammy.

"They are looking to the future and I want to wish the new captain all the best as he looks to lead West Indies cricket and take it forward.

"Obviously, throughout my captaincy, winning the two T20 World Cups has been the highlight. And these memories I will cherish for a long time.

"This is not me retiring from one-day or T20, it's just me thanking the fans and my players and the coaches I’ve worked with and WICB for letting me lead the side for the last six years."

Sammy had also courted controversy when Browne was appointed WICB chairman of selectors in June, replacing Clive Lloyd, "Oh Lord" in response to the news.

In the 2016 Caribbean Premier League, Sammy, who captains St Lucia Zouks, made 212 runs with a highest score of 59 at an average of 42.40, and took eight wickets, with a best of 3-18 at 7.60 runs per over.

West Indies T20 squad: Andre Fletcher, Andre Russell, Carlos Brathwaite (c), Chris Gayle, Dwayne Bravo, Evin Lewis, Jason Holder, Johnson Charles, Kieron Pollard, Lendl Simmons, Marlon Samuels, Samuel Badree, Sunil Narine