Morton to replace Samuels in Sharjah

West Indies all-rounder Runako Morton will replace the injured Marlon Samuels for the three-match one-day international series against Pakistan in Sharjah starting next Thursday, the West Indies Cricket Board announced on Thursday.

The 23-year-old from the Leeward Islands will leave the Caribbean on Saturday and is expected to arrive in Sharjah on Sunday.

Samuels, who underwent arthroscopic surgery on his left knee, will be out for up to six weeks.

Morton represented Nevis in the Leeward Islands youth and senior championships before gaining selection to the Leewards senior side four years ago.

Following a successful Busta Cup two years ago, Morton was among 20 players called to a West Indies training camp in Jamaica prior to the home series against Zimbabwe, but was not selected.

Morton has shown useful form in this year's Busta Cup, scoring 104 against Trinidad and Tobago at Port-of-Spain in the opening match.

In all, Morton has scored 294 runs at an average of 73.50, the highest aggregate ahead of the third series of matches.

Sherwin Campbell, the former West Indies vice-captain, whose right little finger was broken during the opening Test against Pakistan, is expected to be fit for the second one-day international starting on February 15.

The West Indies and Pakistan are currently playing the second of a two-Test series. Pakistan leads the series 1-0 after a comfortable 170-run victory in the first Test.

Mail Cricket Editor