Carlos Brathwaite has been named the captain of the West Indies Twenty20 International side for the upcoming two-match T20I series against India in Florida, the West Indies Cricket Board (WICB) announced on Monday (August 8).
Brathwaite will replace Darren Sammy, who was sacked as the T20I captain last week.
“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,” Courtney Browne, the chairman of selectors, said. “We are looking forward to a competitive series against India in these matches.”
Brathwaite played a crucial role in West Indies’ World T20-winning campaign in India earlier this year, when he smashed four consecutive sixes in the last over against England to take the team to title victory.
The change of guard brings an end to Sammy’s six-year tenure at the helm, during which he guided the side to two World T20 title victories. The all-rounder has also been omitted from the squad for the two upcoming games against India in Florida, which will also see the return of Sunil Narine and Kieron Pollard – the duo that had pulled out of the World T20.
“The selection panel has expressed its thanks to former captain, Daren Sammy for his leadership of that format of the game for the two World Championship titles in 2012 and earlier this year,” Brown said.
The two T20Is will be played on August 27 and 28.
West Indies T20I squad: Andre Fletcher, Andre Russell, Carlos Brathwaite (capt), Chris Gayle, Dwayne Bravo, Evin Lewis, Jason Holder, Johnson Charles, Kieron Pollard, Lendl Simmons, Marlon Samuels, Samuel Badree, Sunil Narine.
 announced on Monday (August 8).){kind=link}