Benn named for World Cup

A MONTH after facing disciplinary action from the local and regional cricket bodies, Sulieman Benn has found favour with the West Indies selectors. The tall, 21-year-old, left-arm spinner was one of seven Barbadians and one of four players without international experience named Monday in a 30-man provisional squad for the 2003 World Cup in Africa.

The other three uncapped players are Barbadian all-rounder Ian Bradshaw, Windward Islands opener Devon Smith and Jamaican wicketkeeper Keith Hibbert.

It is a significant achievement in Benn's career. He came under the microscope last month when he found himself in hot water with the Barbados Cricket Association (BCA) and the West Indies Cricket Board (WICB).

Eleven days after the BCA announced it was withdrawing him from its year-round national programme following a series of events, the WICB fined him ten per cent of his tour fee for breaching the code of conduct on the West Indies "A" team's summer trip to England and Canada.

Benn has been a consistent performer in two seasons of first-class cricket and has been even more effective in the shorter form of the game. During this year's Red Stripe Bowl, he was Barbados' top wicket-taker with 11 scalps at an economy rate of 3.68 and last season his rate of 3.02 was the third best among bowlers who delivered more than 30 overs.

Floyd Reifer, the heavy-scoring left-hander, has been given consideration after his outstanding returns in the last three regional limited-overs competitions in which he scored 719 runs (ave. 59.91).

He was especially dominant this year when his 355 runs (ave. 118.33) earned him the Most Valued Player award.

Bradshaw, a left-handed all-rounder, joins fellow Barbadian fast bowlers Vasbert Drakes, Pedro Collins and Corey Collymore in a squad that also features the return of Windward Islands fast bowler Nixon McLean.

McLean last played for the West Indies in the 2001 home series against South Africa before taking up a contract with KwaZulu-Natal Dolphins in South Africa where he helped the club win the Super Sport first-class competition and the Standard Bank Cup.

His 44 wickets, taken at 16.27, in the Super Sport, were the second-most in the competition and his 15 wickets in the Standard Cup were taken at an economy rate of 3.48.

McLean's unavailability ruled him out of West Indies selection, but was once more eligible for selection after playing in the Red Stripe Bowl three months ago.

With the benefit of his experience in South Africa, McLean could be a genuine contender for the final squad of 15 that will be named by December 31 in accordance with the regulations set out in the Participating Nations Agreement between the International Cricket Council and the 14 countries taking part in the World Cup.

All countries had to submit a provisional squad of 30 to the ICC by November 30 or the first working day that followed.

Players not named in the provisional squad of 30 can only be included in cases of injury or exceptional circumstances.

West Indies, who play South Africa in the opening match of the World Cup on February 9, leave the Caribbean on January 28 following a two-week training camp in Antigua.

The 30 includes five players who have not played for the West Indies in 2002. They are McLean, Reifer, fast bowlers Reon King of Guyana and Kerry Jeremy of the Leeward Islands and left-arm spinner Neil McGarrell who has not played international cricket this year.