Chris Gayle ... the number three batsman. - file

MUMBAI, India (CMC):

West Indies arrived in India yesterday for their four-match One-Day International tour, their final tournament before the ICC Cricket World Cup bowls off in March this year.

The team arrived in two groups with Chris Gayle, Marlon Samuels, Daren Powell, Dwayne Bravo, Ian Bradshaw and manager Clive Lloyd comprising the first and the remainder of the squad, led by captain Brian Lara, comprising the second.

The squad, without the services of injured vice-captain Ramnaresh Sarwan, is scheduled to leave tomorrow with the opening match of the series scheduled for Nagpur on Sunday.

Final look at players

Despite the short nature of the tour, it is expected to provide the West Indies selectors with a final look at several players, especially with a few players having been recalled for the series.

Rayad Emrit, a 25-year old all-rounder, has been picked for the first time while opener Devon Smith has been recalled after a long break.

Talented all-rounder Darren Sammy, also recalled after nearly three years outside of the selectors' framework, was forced to withdraw from the tour at the last minute because of a hamstring injury. His place in the touring party has been taken by dashing all-rounder Dwayne Smith.

West Indies will also play matches in Cuttack (January 24), Chennai (January 27) and Baroda (January 31).

SQUAD: Brian Lara (captain), Ian Bradshaw, Dwayne Bravo, Dwayne Smith, Shivnarine Chanderpaul, Reyad Emrit, Chris Gayle, Runako Morton, Daren Powell, Denesh Ramdin, Marlon Samuels, Lendl Simmons, Devon Smith, Jerome Taylor.