Smith, Hibbert among five training with Windies Cup squad

The uncapped pair of opening batsman Devon Smith and wicketkeeper Keith Hibbert have been named among a group of five players who will train with the West Indies team at their 2003 World Cup preparatory camp in Antigua, starting January 12.

Left-hander Smith, aged 21, and Hibbert, aged 22, as well as international caps Daren Ganga, Ryan Hinds and Daren Powell will attend the two-week camp along with the 15-member squad named last Saturday.

"Effectively, these five players have been short-listed by the Selection Committee in case any member of the original 15 is unable to participate in the 2003 World Cup," remarked Michael Hall, chief cricket operations officer of the West Indies Cricket Board.

Smith has emerged as one of the bright batting prospects in the region following two solid seasons in the West Indies first-class championship, and outings with the Young West Indies and West Indies A-Teams.

Hibbert is one of the young candidates the selectors have been eyeing to fill the role of `keeper in the future. This is not the first time he has been invited to train with the senior team.

West Indies, World Cup champions in 1975 and 1979, meet host South Africa in the opening match of the competition and Pool B in Cape Town on February 9. The other five teams in Pool B are Sri Lanka, New Zealand, Kenya, Bangladesh and Canada.