BRIDGETOWN, Barbados (CMC):

Ramnaresh Sarwan has been recalled to the West Indies team for the 2011 World Cup, starting on February 19 in India, Sri Lanka and Bangladesh.

Sarwan had been dropped from the side for the rain-spoilt trip to Sri Lanka late last year, following concerns about his health and fitness.

The 30-year-old batsman has, however, dispelled all questions about his health and fitness in the last three months, following his injury-free participation in the regional one-day competition and ongoing Caribbean Twenty20 Championship.

"We have had a good look at him since then, and we think he looks fit," said chairman of the West Indies selection panel, Clyde Butts, at a news conference at Kensington Oval yesterday.

"I have also personally been to watch him train in Guyana and there are official reports from the trainer and the territorial development officer about the training he has been doing."

Sarwan was sidelined last May when he pulled up with a hamstring injury during a one-day international (ODI) against South Africa in Dominica.

This followed his recovery from a back injury he sustained on the tour of Australia late in 2009.

"When you take what we said about Sarwan prior to the tour of Sri Lanka ... we are satisfied that he is fully fit again and can play cricket again for West Indies, all things being equal," said Butts.

injury layoff

The 15-member squad, which will be led by Darren Sammy, also features fast-bowling all-rounder Andre Russell. He is yet to play an ODI.

One notable absentee, however, is fast bowler Jerome Taylor. He returned to competitive action for Jamaica during the ongoing CT20, following a lengthy injury layoff, but the selectors prefer to allow him to work his way back.

The squad also features Chris Gayle, Dwayne Bravo, and Kieron Pollard. The three players all turned down central retainer contracts from the West Indies Cricket Board.

Though they are all missing from the ongoing CT20 to play in the T20 Big Bash in Australia, they all played in the regional one-day competition last year, which qualifies them for selection.