West Indies tour of Bangladesh: Keon Harding, 24, has been picked as Romario Shepherd’s replacement for West Indies’ ODI squad after the all-rounder tested positive for COVID-19. It comes as big blow to Windies, who are already without their mainstays including Jason Holder, Chemar Holder, Jahmar Hamilton, Akeal Hosein, Kyle Mayers, Alzarri Joseph amongst others.
Shepherd is currently in his hometown, Guyana, where he is undergoing isolation and has been ruled out of the tour.
“In accordance with the established Government stipulations, Shepherd will remain in Guyana where he is undergoing a period of isolation that unfortunately will extend beyond the team’s travel period,” Cricket West Indies official release said on Friday.
“Following established medical protocols, CWI started the first of a series of COVID-19 tests, on all members of the Bangladesh touring party on January 2 and following receipt of the results today, CWI can confirm that all other members of the touring party have returned negative results. All members of the touring party took their second and final pre-travel COVID-19 test yesterday,” it added.
Harding is a seamed from Barbados. He has played 17 first-class matches in which he has 54 wicket to his name, averaging 25.11.
West Indies ODI Squad:Jason Mohammed (c), Sunil Ambris (vc), Nkrumah Bonner, Joshua Da Silva, Keon Harding, Jahmar Hamilton, Chemar Holder, Akeal Hosein, Alzarri Joseph, Kyle Mayers, Andre McCarthy, Kjorn Ottley, Rovman Powell, Raymon Reifer, Hayden Walsh jr
West Indies Test Squad:Kraigg Brathwaite (c), Jermaine Blackwood (vc), Nkrumah Bonner, John Campbell, Rahkeem Cornwall, Joshua Da Silva, Shannon Gabriel, Kavem Hodge, Alzarri Joseph, Kyle Mayers, Shayne Moseley, Veerasammy Permaul, Kemar Roach, Raymon Reifer, Jomel Warrican
Full Tour Schedule
January 20: 1st ODI, SBNCS, Dhaka
January 22: 2nd ODI, SBNCS, Dhaka
January 25: 3rd ODI, ZACS, Chattogram
January 28-31: Four-day warm-up, M.A. Aziz Stadium, Chattogram
February 3-7: 1st Test Match, ZACS, Chattogram
February 11-15: 2nd Test Match, SBNCS, Dhaka
