WI select Beaton for Afghan series

West Indies on Friday called up uncapped fast bowler Ronsford Beaton into their 13-man squad to face Afghanistan in a three-match Twenty20 series next month.

The tall 24-year-old fast bowler has so far played 36 T20 matches, with 31 wickets including best figures of 4-9.

Test skipper Jason Holder has been rested after a gruelling battle against Pakistan which saw West Indies lose the Test, ODI and T20 series.

West Indies, the defending world T20 champions, insisted they will not take Afghanistan lightly, especially as the Asian side are pushing hard to be granted Test match status.

The three games against Afghanistan will all take place at Warner Park in St Kitts -- on June 2, 3 and 5.

The two teams will also play three one-dayers later in the month.

SQUAD: Carlos Brathwaite (captain), Samuel Badree, Ronsford Beaton, Evin Lewis, Jason Mohammed, Sunil Narine, Kieron Pollard, Rovman Powell, Marlon Samuels, Lendl Simmons, Jerome Taylor, Chadwick Walton, Kesrick Williams.