BRIDGETOWN, Barbados (CMC):

Jamaican stroke-maker Marlon Samuels has been recalled to the West Indies squad for the first time in three years, after being named in a 13-man squad for the Twenty20 International against Pakistan later this month.

The 30-year-old right-hander had been sidelined from international cricket after being slapped with a two-year ban in 2008 for inappropriate ties to a bookie. The suspension ended last year.

An elegant player, Samuels stormed back into the selectors' favour after amassing 830 runs in the Regional First-Class Championship, the most by any player. Samuels also had an impressive showing in the regional T20 Championships where he finished as the top run-getter. Despite receiving an earlier call-up to the West Indies for the recently concluded ICC Cricket World Cup, the batsman declined the invitation, declaring himself not yet ready to return to international cricket. Young batting prodigy Lendl Simmons, who was also not included in the World Cup squad, as it was reported for non-cricketing reasons, will also get another chance to impress as he has been selected in the 13-man squad.

The squad includes uncapped players Christopher Barnwell, Ashley Nurse, Krishmar Santokie and Danza Hyatt, and is without veterans Shivnarine Chanderpaul and Ramnaresh Sarwan.

Chris Gayle, Kieron Pollard and Dwayne Bravo were ineligible for selection after missing this year's Caribbean Twenty20 Championship.

SQUAD - Darren Sammy (captain), Christopher Barnwell, Devendra Bishoo, Darren Bravo, Andre Fletcher, Danza Hyatt, Ashley Nurse, Ravi Rampaul, Kemar Roach, Andre Russell, Marlon Samuels, Krishmar Santokie, Lendl Simmons.