ST GEORGE'S, Grenada (CMC):

Two rising stars in regional cricket, fast bowler Shannon Gabriel and all-rounder Christopher Barnwell, have been called up to represent world champions West Indies in the upcoming two-match T20 International series against Zimbabwe.

Gabriel, the Trinidad & Tobago pacer, is receiving a first-time call-up for the T20 format, while Guyanese Barnwell is being recalled for the matches Saturday and Sunday at the Vivian Richards Cricket Ground in Antigua.

Gabriel, who played for West Indies against England last year, was forced to return to the Caribbean prematurely after suffering back spasms, while Barnwell emerged from the Caribbean T20 tournament last month as the leading scorer with 245 runs and six wickets.

Opening batsman Chris Gayle has asked to miss the T20 series and has been granted permission, a release from the WICB said.

FULL SQUAD: Darren Sammy (captain), Samuel Badree, Christopher Barnwell, Tino Best, Darren Bravo, Dwayne Bravo, Johnson Charles, Shannon Gabriel, Sunil Narine, Kieron Pollard, Denesh Ramdin, André Russell, Lendl Simmons.