Desmond Haynes, West Indies’ lead selector, said: “We have had some injuries to our fast-bowling pool, so therefore we see Gabriel as an ideal fit heading into South Africa, and the surfaces we expect to play on.

“It is felt that we need someone to get those early wickets and he is the kind of bowler that can do that. Judging from his performances in the CG United Super50 Cup, he is potentially a wicket-taking option up front.”

2024 T20 World Cup becomes long-term focus

West Indies have stuck with the core of the squad that crashed out of last year’s T20 World Cup before the Super 12 stage for the three-match T20I series in South Africa, which follows the ODIs.

Yet they have made a solitary change from the World Cup squad: Romario Shepherd, the seam-bowling allrounder, has replaced Evin Lewis. “For the T20Is, we have an experienced squad,” Haynes said.

“What we are looking for is to form a cohesive unit and look at the players who we believe can form the nucleus as we build towards doing very well and challenging when we host the ICC Men’s T20 World Cup in June 2024.”

Kyle Mayers, the allrounder, has been named Powell’s vice-captain. Obed McCoy has been included but his selection for the T20Is is subject to medical clearance

Brevis in SA Invitational squad

Brevis, who has never played a first-class game but has long been marked out as a future all-format international, has been named in the South African Invitational XI squad for an unofficial three-day warm-up fixture in Benoni that gets underway on Tuesday.

“The squad is made up of a mix of provincial players that were made available by their respective provincial teams,” CSA said in a statement.

West Indies T20I squad: Rovman Powell (captain), Kyle Mayers (vice-captain), Shamarh Brooks, Yannic Cariah, Johnson Charles, Sheldon Cottrell, Jason Holder, Akeal Hosein, Alzarri Joseph, Brandon King, Obed McCoy, Nicholas Pooran, Raymon Reifer, Romario Shepherd, Odean Smith

SA Invitational XI squad: Corbin Bosch, Dewald Brevis, Ruan de Swart, Evan Jones, Wihan Lubbe, Wandile Makwetu, Hlompho Modimokoane, Smangaliso Nhlebela, Thando Ntini, Bryce Parsons, Jiveshan Pillay, Daniel Smith, Codi Yusuf