The West Indies are all set to host South Africa for a three-match T20I series ahead of the T20 Cricket World Cup, which starts on June 2, 2024. The Cricket West Indies (CWI) Selection Panel has announced the 15-member squad for the series against South Africa, beginning on May 23rd. All three matches will take place at Sabina Park.
Brandon King has been appointed as the captain of the West Indies in the absence of Rovman Powell, who will miss the series due to IPL commitments, as the playoff matches of the IPL clash with the series. Roston Chase will serve as the vice-captain for the men in maroon.
🚨 BREAKING NEWS🚨
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CWI has named the squad to face South Africa in the upcoming T20I Series at Sabina Park, Jamaica.
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Apart from Powell (RR), Andre Russell (KKR), Shimron Hetmyer (RR), and Alzarri Joseph (RCB) are the few key players who will miss this series due to their IPL commitments, with their respective sides managing to qualify for the playoffs.
Nicholas Pooran and Shai Hope have been left out of this series despite their respective IPL franchises, LSG and DC, failing to qualify for the playoffs. According to CWI, both players have been given rest after the hectic IPL schedule.
Hayden Walsh Jr., Fabian Allen, Alick Athanaze, Andre Fletcher, Matthew Forde, and Obed McCoy, who failed to grab their spots in the World Cup squad, will replace the IPL-bound players in the series against South Africa.
The head coach of the West Indies, Darren Sammy, expressed his thoughts on this series, stating, “We have not played together as a team since the Australia series, but we just completed a very high-intensity training camp in Antigua. Now we have the chance to integrate some of our players returning from the IPL and build some momentum as a group going into the World Cup.”
West Indies squad: Brandon King (C), Roston Chase (VC), Fabian Allen, Alick Athanaze, Johnson Charles (wk), Andre Fletcher, Matthew Forde, Jason Holder, Akeal Hosein, Shamar Joseph, Kyle Mayers, Obed McCoy, Gudakesh Motie, Romario Shepherd, Hayden Walsh Jr.
The CWI selection panel has announced that Alzarri Joseph and Sherfane Rutherford will be added to the squad if their respective franchises do not reach the Indian Premier League (IPL) final.
