Pollard, Narine out of Windies World T20 squad

Pollard, 28, pulled out due to injury while 27-year-old Narine said he was under-prepared as he serves out an international suspension for a suspect bowling action.

Kieron Pollard has not played any form of cricket since November due to a knee injury.

All-rounder Kieron Pollard and off-spinner Sunil Narine withdrew from the West Indies World T20 squad but officials insisted the moves were not sparked by the current pay dispute engulfing the team.

Pollard, 28, pulled out due to injury while 27-year-old Narine said he was under-prepared as he serves out an international suspension for a suspect bowling action.

Carlos Brathwaite has been drafted to replace Pollard while a replacement for Narine has not yet been named.

“Kieron Pollard withdrew from the squad citing a lack of sufficient progress in his rehabilitative work (injury sustained in December) and hence won’t be fit for tournament,” said a spokeswoman for the West Indies Cricket Board (WICB).

“Sunil Narine withdrew citing insufficient progress in the rehabilitative work on his bowling action. He is currently banned from bowling in international cricket.”

The West Indies squad is currently at loggerheads with the WICB over payments for the World Twenty20 in India in March.

The players have been given until Sunday to sign their contracts for the tournament.