Explosive West Indies left handed opening batsman Christopher Gayle has criticised the non-selection of Dwayne Bravo and Kieron Pollard for the World Cup.{{more}}

When the team was released last Saturday, neither man was among the 15-member team for the tournament, to be hosted jointly by Australia and New Zealand.

Gayle, a member of the World Cup team, speaking at the end of the second Twenty/20 International versus South Africa last Sunday in South Africa, did not mince his words on their omission.

“…I woke up this morning and saw the World Cup squad and no Pollard and no Bravo … I felt really hurt deep inside and that’s the reason why I really want(ed) to win this series,” Gayle said forcefully.

“We have the best team here and to see those two guys excluded and it is sad for West Indies Cricket… These two guys should be in South Africa for the 50-over tournament and the World Cup squad…I am really glad to win this and show them up a bit,” Gayle added.

The team selected and formally released last Saturday reads: Jason Holder (captain), Marlon Samuels (vice-captain), Sulieman Benn, Darren Bravo, Jonathan Carter, Sheldon Cottrell, Christopher Gayle, Sunil Narine, Denesh Ramdin, Kemar Roach, Andre Russell, Darren Sammy, Lendl Simmons, Dwayne Smith and Jerome Taylor.

Both Bravo and Pollard, although part of the West Indies T/20 team that is engaging South Africa in the three-match series, are not part of the team for five One-Day Internationals, which follow.

Instead, the two would be part of Trinidad and Tobago’s team for the Nagico Super-50 competition, starting later this week in their native land.

Speculations were rife that the two would not have been part of the West Indies World Cup set-up, after they were not named in the team to face the South Africans.

Before that, though, the West Indies Cricket Board had announced that Bravo was being replaced by 23-year-old Jason Holder as the ODI captain.

Bravo was at the helm when the West Indies aborted the tour of India last October, vexed over contractual issues.

Reports are that Pollard was one of the key persons advocating returning to the Caribbean prematurely.

The West Indies opens its World Cup campaign versus Ireland February 16 in Nelson, then plays Pakistan at Christchurch.

Their next engagement is February 24, against Zimbabwe at Canberra.

The Caribbean side then takes on South Africa in Sydney on February 27 and meets India on March 6 in Perth.

Engagement with the United Arab Emirates at Napier, March 15, rounds off the West Indies’ Pool C itinerary of the preliminary round of the global event.(RT)