Former West Indies captain Jason Holder has replaced Obed McCoy in the West Indies 15-man squad for the remainder of the ICC T20 World Cup 2021 after the latter picked up an injury during the showpiece event. The 24-year-old left-arm pacer had suffered an injury to his right leg during the opening game against England on October 23 at the Dubai International Stadium.
The inclusion of Holder in the main team was confirmed by the International Cricket Council (ICC) on Wednesday after an approval by the ICC Event Technical Committee. A formal request was made by the defending champions for the inclusion of the experienced all-rounder, who was named as one of the reserves by the West Indies ahead of the tournament.
The 29-year-old Holder will be available to play the next match against Bangladesh on Friday.
Cricket West Indies’ Chief Selector Roger Harper in a statement said, “Jason Holder has been in the UAE for a while now and will fit quite well into the team unit. He is an experienced and knowledgeable cricketer who we know will be eager and excited to grab the opportunity.”
The chief selector also expressed his disappointment over McCoy’s injury.
“McCoy did really well in the T20Is earlier this year and adapted well in the opening match against England. He was a key member of the bowling unit and it’s unfortunate he won’t be able to take any further part in the tournament. We wish him a speedy recovery and hope to see him back on the field ready to go again in the near future,” Harper concluded.
Jason Holder has represented West Indies in 27 Internationals and played in the Indian Premier League (IPL) for the Sunrisers Hyderabad (SRH).
The defending champions West Indies, who had a horrible start to their campaign after suffering back-to-back defeats against England and South Africa, are on the brink of being knocked out of the marquee event.
The two-time champions are set to face Bangladesh, Australia and Sri Lanka in their remaining fixtures of the tournament.
