JAMAICA’s former national team cricket Head Coach Junior Bennett says he is satisfied with the West Indies squads for white-ball series against South Africa in March.

After Shai Hope and Rovman Powell were appointed respective captains of the One-Day International (ODI) and Twenty20 teams last week, the most eye-catching move was the selection of pace bowler Shannon Gabriel in the 15-man ODI squad announced on Monday.

Gabriel, who turns 35 in April, took 15 wickets to help power Trinidad and Tobago Red Force to the final of the Regional Super50 Cup late last year. His last ODI match was against Sri Lanka at the 2019 World Cup in England.

“I think it is a fairly balanced squad, and I’m just hoping that we can execute our skills efficiently and consistently in all areas,” Bennett told the Jamaica Observer in reference to the ODI squad.

“Gabriel had a very good Super50 tournament. He bowled well and forced his way into the squad with those performances.”

Bennett, the lead selector for Jamaica’s senior team, also weighed in on the decision to have split captaincy for the West Indies ODI and T20 teams, after Nicholas Pooran relinquished the roles last November.

“I think Shai and Rovman are good choices to captain the two versions of our white-ball teams. With both versions having separate captains it will ease the burden off any one individual,” he reasoned.

Aside from Gabriel’s inclusion, the selectors largely stuck with players who have featured in recent months.

And while some regional cricket watchers have asked about well-regarded all-rounder Fabian Allen, who last played for West Indies in February 2022, Bennett said his exclusion was not surprising.

“Fabian was not selected for the [T20] World Cup [last year] and he was not available for the Super50, so I am not surprised he was not selected,” Bennett, one of regional cricket’s most successful coaches, said.

West Indies are scheduled to face South Africa in the three-match ODI series from March 16 to 21. The first two matches — day/night affairs — are set for East London while the final game is booked for Potchefstroom.

The three-match T20I series is to run from March 25 to 28. The first two games are slated for Centurion and the final one scheduled for Johannesburg.

Squads: ODI – Shai Hope (captain), Rovman Powell (vice-captain), Shamarh Brooks, Yannic Cariah, Keacy Carty, Roston Chase, Shannon Gabriel, Jason Holder, Akeal Hosein, Alzarri Joseph, Brandon King, Kyle Mayers, Nicholas Pooran, Romario Shepherd, Odean Smith

T20I – Rovman Powell (captain), Kyle Mayers (vice-captain), Shamarh Brooks, Yannic Cariah, Johnson Charles, Sheldon Cottrell, Jason Holder, Akeal Hosein, Alzarri Joseph, Brandon King, Obed McCoy, Nicholas Pooran, Raymon Reifer, Romario Shepherd, Odean Smith

— Sanjay Myers