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Lara named in West Indies World Cup squad

Brian Lara has been declared fit for the 2003 World Cup after suffering from a mystery illness, the West Indies Cricket Board said on Saturday.

Lara and fast bowler Nixon McLean were named in the 15-man West Indies squad for the tournament in South Africa, Zimbabwe and Kenya starting in February.

The 33-year-old Lara was initially thought to be suffering from hepatitis but the exact nature of his illness has not been revealed.

He has not played since the ICC Championship in Sri Lanka in September, missing tours to India and Bangladesh.

The left-hander, who holds both Test (375) and first-class (501 not out) individual batting world records, has resumed training in preparation for his fourth World Cup.

Earlier this month, Wisden, widely regarded as the bible of cricket publications, named Lara the number three batsman all time in one-day internationals behind fellow West Indian Viv Richards and India's Sachin Tendulkar.

He was listed 10th on the Test list headed by Australian Don Bradman and also included fellow West Indians Richards, at three, and Garfield Sobers, at four.

For the 29-year-old McLean, who has played 44 limited-overs matches, his selection offers him a chance to revive an international career that appeared to have ended after playing in the 2001 home series against South Africa.

"I think it is marvelous that (Lara) is back and we welcome him with open arms," Richards, chairman of the West Indies selection committee, said.

"It means we have some more depth in our batting and if we can get a few more things working, I think we have a great chance of going very far in the 2003 World Cup," added the former West Indies captain.

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"You will also notice that McLean is back after not being in the squad, most notably in Sri Lanka, India and Bangladesh this year, but he's had some experience of playing provincial cricket in South Africa.

"In general, I believe it is a team of horses for courses because we have picked six fast bowlers knowing the kind of conditions that we may encounter in South Africa, where the pitches tend to offer plenty of bounce and movement."

Commenting on the fitness of Lara and five others who had been identified with injuries or medical concerns, WIBC president Wes Hall said all of them were declared eligible for selection on the basis of medical reports.

"Lara underwent medical tests in Britain, was given a clean bill of health, and cleared to take part in the World Cup by the doctors," Hall said.

"West Indies captain Carl Hooper underwent successful arthroscopic surgery on his knees and the medical reports submitted to the WICB have also cleared him for World Cup duty.

"Meanwhile, fast bowlers Mervyn Dillon and Vasbert Drakes, as well as batsman Ramnaresh Sarwan all received treatment from medical specialists for varying ailments and were declared fit to resume training for duties at the World Cup."

All 14 countries taking part in the World Cup had to submit a provisional squad of 30 to the ICC by November 30 before naming their final 15 by December 31.

West Indies, world champions in 1975 and 1979, meet hosts South Africa in the opening match of the competition in Cape Town on February 9. The other five teams in Pool B are Sri Lanka, New Zealand, Kenya, Bangladesh and Canada.

Squad: Carl Hooper (captain), Ridley Jacobs (vice-captain), Shivnarine Chanderpaul, Pedro Collins, Corey Collymore, Mervyn Dillon, Vasbert Drakes, Chris Gayle, Wavell Hinds, Brian Lara, Jermaine Lawson, Nixon McLean, Ricardo Powell, Marlon Samuels, Ramnaresh Sarwan.

Also read:
Campbell left out of Zimbabwe W'Cup squad
Tillakaratne included in Lankan W'Cup squad

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