Out-of-favour West Indies batsman Marlon Samuels left the country earlier this week for Barbados where he is currently training with the West Indies 'A' team ahead of the their upcoming tour of Sri Lanka.

The 33-year-old, who will likely lead the team's batting on their tour of the Asian country, was recently dropped from the West Indies senior team following a dip in form.

Samuels' last Test match, which was against New Zealand in June at Sabina Park, saw him being dismissed for naught in both innings.

This followed a series of low scores, which proceeded on tours of India last November, and New Zealand a month later.

"He is presently in Barbados with the 'A' team, and is preparing to travel with the team on their tour of Sri Lanka," said a source close to the West Indies Cricket Board.

one-day internationals

Samuels, the 2012 Wisden Cricketer of the Year, and 2012 West Indies Cricket Board and West Indies Players Association Cricket of the Year, currently averages 34.68 from 52 Tests.

He also has an average 31.35 from 159 one-day internationals, and 29.78 from 35 Twenty20 internationals.

Captain of Antigua Hawksbills, Samuels scored a century and two half-centuries in the recently-concluded Caribbean Premier League Twenty20.

Meanwhile, Sri Lanka Cricket on Thursday announced a preliminary squad of 32 players for the tour via their website. The dates and amount of matches are still to be finalised.

Test batsmen Upul Tharanga, Dinesh Chandimal and Lahiru Thirimanne tops the list along with one-day wicketkeeper batsman, Kusal Perera.

The West Indies are scheduled to tour India early next month for three Tests, five one-dayers and a one-off Twenty20.