Smith is a prolific left-handed opening batsman who toured Britain and Canada with the West Indies A team last year. Bernard is a fluent middle-order batsman, who bowls medium pace, and Carlton Baugh joins veteran Ridley Jacobs as a second wicketkeeper/batsman in the squad.

Carl Hooper, replaced by Brian Lara as captain after the team exited the 2003 Cricket World Cup (CWC) at the first round, is also named in the squad.

Daren Ganga, who last represented the West Indies in Bangladesh in December, returns to the squad, and Jamaican Chris Gayle was dropped, even while the West Indies Cricket Board (WICB) ponders over his selection eligibility after he opted out of the Carib Beer International Challenge final this weekend.

The WICB has asked Gayle and the Jamaica Cricket Association to submit reports on the circumstances that led to Gayle's non-selection for Jamaica for the Carib Beer Challenge final against Barbados here.

"So far, the JCA has submitted a report, but the WICB is still awaiting the report from Gayle before making a decision on whether he is in breach of the eligibility rule," the WICB said in a release.

"Meanwhile, the WICB has advised Sir Vivian Richards, Chairman of the West Indies Selection Committee, that until such time as a decision has been made to the contrary, Gayle is eligible for selection on the West Indies team," the release stated.

Ramnaresh Sarwan, who was appointed vice-captain for the series, has not recovered from a finger injury, and was not considered for selection.

A vice-captain to replace Sarwan will be named later.