( l - r ) Gayle, Narine

Wicketkeeper Denesh Ramdin says opener Chris Gayle and off-spinner Sunil Narine will be key if the West Indies are to repeat the heroics of 2004 and capture next month's ICC Champions Trophy.

The tournament will see Gayle and Narine entering as two of the best players in the Twenty20 format of the game and, according to Ramdin, if the duo play, the team could be a force to reckon with.

"We are expecting a lot from Chris Gayle. He is in form and though it is Twenty20, we know he has what it takes to play the longer versions as well," said Ramdin.

"As for our bowling, a lot will be expected of young Narine. He has been good in Twenty20, but is yet to make his mark really in 50 overs.

"But this is as good as any tournament to show that he has improved, and we are backing him to come good," he added.

Ramdin, who will act as deputy to new captain Dwayne Bravo, also said though Gayle and Narine will be important, it was imperative that other players in the team step up as they did in the ICC Twenty20 World Cup last October.

defeated

The West Indies defeated hosts Sri Lanka to light Twenty20 World Cup.

"If we are going to do well, Gayle alone can't do it. We will need other players like Dwayne Bravo, (Robert) Samuels and (Kieron) Pollard to come good," said Ramdin.

"We will also need players like (Kemar) Roach, (Ravi) Rampaul and (Tino) Best to give us starts, as well as people like myself and Sammy to deliver when we are called upon."

The West Indies, currently ranked number seven in the world, have been drawn in Group B alongside world number-one-ranked India, number-four-ranked South Africa and number-six-ranked Pakistan.

They will open their account on July 7 against Pakistan on June 7, before taking on the Indians on the 11, and closing out their campaign on July 13 against South Africa.

Group A consists of world number-two-ranked England, Australia, New Zealand and Sri Lanka.