Jermaine Lannaman, Gleaner Writer

It is unclear as to who will captain Jamaica at next month's regional West Indies Cricket Board (WICB) President's Cup one-day tournament, which will be held here from October 12-24.

According to well-placed Gleaner sources, West Indies captain, Chris Gayle, has been recommended by the national selection committee for the post.

However, despite the recent naming of a 23-member training squad, the board of the Jamaica Cricket Association (JCA) is yet to ratify the recommendation.

Gayle, who is one of five specialist openers named in what is a relatively strong squad, was recommended ahead of regular four-day and recently appointed Twenty20 captain, Tamar Lambert.

Lambert, who is one of six specialist middle-order batsmean in the squad, led Jamaica to a historic third consecutive hold on the prestigious regional four-day title earlier this year.

Miserable fourth

He was, however, unsuccessful in his pursuit to guide Jamaica to a title success in the inaugural Caribbean Twenty20 tournament held recently in Trinidad and Tobago and Barbados, where Jamaica ended a miserable fourth despite boasting a very strong team.

The issue of captaincy is somewhat a major concern for the team as, according to JCA president, Paul Campbell, it may have been one of the reasons for Jamaica's showing at the Twenty20 tournament.

"That is what I am picking up, that there were some issues around that (captaincy)," Campbell told the media shortly after the tournament.

"I could not say that was the main issue, or the only issue, but I have been told by one or two players that there were two teams playing there. That's their interpretation ... that is the players speaking," he added at the time.

Nehemiah Perry, former chaiman of the selection committee, had resigned prior to the team's departure for the Twenty20 tournament due to issues relating to the appointment of Lambert for the Twenty20 tournament.

The squad, in the meantime, which includes no major surprises, has Jamaica Defence Force left-arm seamer, Sheldon Cotterell, as its only newcomer.

Cotterell, who is one of five specialist fast bowlers in the squad, has been a standout for the soldiers in local competitions in recent years. However, his first call-up to the national squad in July was curtailed by the army men's involvement in the recent Tivoli Gardens incursion.

The squad is quite strong, with 12 of the players having represented the West Indies or West Indies 'A' teams. They include Gayle, the current Windies skipper; Xavier Marshall, Brenton Parchment, Donovan Pagon, Marlon Samuels, Wavell Hinds, Brendan Nash, David Bernard Jr, Carlton Baugh Jr, Odean Brown, Andrew Richardson and Andre Russell.

The squad also boasts three returnees, two of whom were members of Manchester Lions' victorious two-day Super League team, and one member from Jamaica's Under-19 contingent, which failed to defend the regional double in St Lucia recently.

Returnees

The returnees are batsman Donovan Sinclair and pace bowlers Stephan Patterson and Jason Dawes, while the Under-19 player is West Indies Under-19 all-rounder, Jermaine Blackwood, who also bowls off spin.

The squad will start training next week, following which a series of trial matches will be held.

It will then be cut to 18, after which the captain will be named.

The captain will then form part of the selection panel for the final squad of 14 or 16 players for the tournament.

SQUAD: Christopher Gayle, Tamar Lambert, Xavier Marshall, Brenton Parchment, Danza Hyatt, Donovan Pagon, Marlon Samuels, Wavell Hinds, Brendan Nash, Jermaine Blackwood, David Bernard Jr, Donovan Sinclair, Horace Miller, Carlton Baugh Jr, Bevon Brown, Odean Brown, Andrew Richardson, Stephan Patterson, Jason Dawes, Sheldon Cotterell, Andre Russell, Krishmar Santokie, David Powell.