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Brian Lara was included in the West Indies' World Cup 15 only after he was given the medical all-clear by a London specialist last week following three months' recuperation from the illness that struck him down during the ICC Champions Trophy in Sri Lanka in September.

West Indies Cricket Board (WICB) president, Reverend Wes Hall, disclosed Friday he had received the relevant reports from the London doctor who conducted tests on Lara late last month at the board's behest and expense and instructed the selectors that he was available.

"Brian has done everything we have asked of him and it is good news that he's now been cleared to start back playing again," Hall said.

He added that he had been in touch with both Lara and the specialist on the matter "on a frequent basis".

"Brian is very keen to get back playing," Hall said. "I think he realises that this may be his last chance in a World Cup and he wants to make his mark."

Lara's long history of keeping selectors guessing over his availability prompted suspicion over his latest condition and the lengthy silence that has accompanied it.

It was fuelled by his participation in the Barbados Open golf tournament in mid-November and his absence from Trinidad and Tobago's trial matches for the forthcoming first-class season.

It brought an accusation from long-serving board president Alloy Lequay that he had turned his back on Trinidad and Tobago cricket and sceptical media comment.

And on Friday, respected veteran cricket writer Tony Becca advised selectors to "bite the bullet" and drop Lara from the squad.

"In the interest of West Indies cricket, he (Lara) should be out," Becca wrote in his column in the Jamaica Daily Gleaner on Friday, a day before the team was named.

"There comes a time in the life of every man when he has to take a stand, and for the West Indies selectors the time has come," Becca wrote, calling into question Lara's commitment to playing for the regional side.

"As a batsman Lara certainly, when he is fit and ready, is one of the best if not the best batsman in the world, and there is no question that in the West Indies' bid to win the World Cup he would be an asset to the team," Becca said.

"Cricket, however, is a team game. No one is bigger than the game, and as brilliant as he has been, as great as he is, Lara is not indispensable.

"On top of that, he has shown little respect, not only for the game, but for its administrators and for the people of the West Indies.

"No one with respect for its administrators would treat them (Trinidad selectors) as he has done; and in a region where cricket means so much to the people, no one with respect for the people would treat West Indies cricket as he has done," Becca added.

"There are other reasons, however, why Lara should not be selected, and although it was due to injury, they include the fact that he has been out of action for some time, that he has not been training and practising, and that no one knows if he is fit enough, physically and mentally, to represent the West Indies or if he is in good form."

Becca said the selectors had failed to act in the past despite grumbling about Lara's attitude and its effect on the team.

"Hopefully, this set of selectors will stand up and be counted and say to Lara, enough is enough – win, lose or draw," he wrote.

Recovered

Hall noted that Lara could not return to full-time play until his doctor was certain he was sufficiently recovered from the illness, initially reported as "suspected hepatitis" but never officially identified.

He said Lara had started training and practising over the past week under the "watchful eye" of West Indies selector Joey Carew.

West Indies captain Carl Hooper had surgery on both knees in Adelaide, Australia, earlier this month. Fast bowler Merv Dillon came home following the tour of India in November with a back strain and Ryan Hinds with a foot injury.

"Carl wouldn't be able to play right now but is on the way to recovery and should be back to full fitness well in time for the start of the World Cup (February 9)," Hall said. "Merv and young Hinds have been playing in trial matches."

The squad of 15, along with five stand-by players, will participate in a preparatory two-week camp in Antigua prior to departure for South Africa February 1.

"I expect this will be our best-prepared team for any World Cup," Hall said. "We've done well in the One-Day game this year and I'm very optimistic over their chances."

© The Barbados Nation