The West Indies selectors have named a 22-man squad for a pre-tour trial match. The match, to be played at the Queen's Park Oval in Trinidad will take place from 18 - 21 January, will help to give the selectors an indication of the form of players prior to their departure for the series against Pakistan in Sharjah.

There are two newcomers named in the training squad. They are former Young West Indies captain and Barbados all-rounder Ian Bradshaw, along with Jamaican wicketkeeper/batsman Keith Hibbert. This will be the only chance the West Indies selectors get at gauging the fitness and preparedness of players since the tour of Sri Lanka last month.

Players not selected in the West Indies 16-member squad for the three-week series against the Pakistanis are free to return to their respective territories to participate in the Busta Cricket Series that opens on January 25.

Former West Indies captain Brian Lara as well as fast bowlers Colin Stuart and Reon King, three regular faces in the side, will not be considered for selection in the trial squad because of injury. Lara is still recovering from the elbow injury he sustained during a limited-overs international on last year's visit to Sri Lanka, Stuart is on the mend from a knee ailment, and King is recuperating from a hernia operation.

Left-handed batsman Shivnarine Chanderpaul and fast bowler Cameron Cuffy, both of whom missed out on the visit to Sri Lanka last year, have fully recovered from their injury setbacks and are in the trial squad.

The 22 trial invitees will arrive in Port-of-Spain on January 16 and 17 before the final 16-member squad departs the Caribbean on January 25 for the United Arab Emirates, where the series will be contested. West Indies are expected to depart Sharjah on February 18 and should return to the Caribbean in time for the last three Busta Cup matches and the play-off matches in the Busta International Shield competition.

West Indies will face Pakistan in two Tests and three limited-overs internationals during their historic series to be contested in the Gulf state's 28,000-seater stadium that has staged 181 limited-overs internationals, far more than any other international venue.

Trial squad is:-

Carl Hooper (captain), Marlon Black, Ian Bradshaw, Darrel Brown, Shivnarine Chanderpaul, Pedro Collins, Corey Collymore, Cameron Cuffy, Mervyn Dillon, Daren Ganga, Leon Garrick, Chris Gayle, Keith Hibbert, Ryan Hinds, Wavell Hinds, Ridley Jacobs, Jermaine Lawson, Neil McGarrell, Dave Mohammed, Dinanath Ramnarine, Marlon Samuels, Ramnaresh Sarwan.

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