File photos
From left, Chris Gayle and Jerome Taylor.

Defending regional one-day champions Jamaica, could be without as many as eight of their top players when they start their title defence on November 4.

The Gleaner understands that Chris Gayle, Jerome Taylor, Darren Powell, Brendan Nash, Nikita Miller, Xavier Marshall, Shawn Findlay and Carlton Baugh will be on tour with the West Indies team in Dubai. The regional team will face Pakistan in three ODIs.

Chairman of the national selection panel, Ruddy Williams, though not fully aware of the players selected to the West Indies team, said they would not be considered.

"We are not going to take them into consideration ... when they are back, if there are any matches available we will have to fit them in the team," Williams said.

The Gleaner understands that Miller and Findlay will return after the one-day series, but are set to rejoin the regional team for the New Zealand tour.

Jamaica will announce their squad tomorrow after the final practice match, at Sabina Park.

The tournament will be hosted by Guyana and Jamaica. Guyana will host the preliminary round, while Jamaica host the Final Four.

- Anthony Foster