The West Indies will be facing Sri Lanka in a three-match T20I and ODI series from October 10-27, but the Caribbean squad will be missing some familiar faces. Andre Russell, Nicholas Pooran, Akeal Hosein, and Shimron Hetmyer have all opted out of the tour, citing personal reasons. This absence provides a chance for the West Indies to explore their depth and evaluate new players in different situations.
Leading the charge for the revamped squad is Rovman Powell as captain, with Roston Chase serving as his deputy. The newly formed selection committee, headed by head coach Daren Sammy, has recalled opening batter Evin Lewis, who last featured in the 2022 T20 World Cup. Brandon King also makes a comeback after overcoming a side injury that hampered his participation in the T20 World Cup. The tour will also see the debut of pace bowling all-rounders Terrance Hinds and Shamar Springer, marking their first call-ups to the national team.
The West Indies are looking to build momentum following their 3-0 T20I series sweep of South Africa, which propelled them to the third spot in the T20I rankings. The Sri Lanka tour offers a valuable opportunity for CWI to focus on developing their ODI team ahead of the ICC Men’s Cricket World Cup 2027.
Shai Hope will lead the ODI side, with Alzarri Joseph as his deputy. One notable inclusion in the squad is Jewel Andrew, a young wicketkeeper-batter from Antigua who has impressed the selectors with his performance. The squad also welcomes back key players like King and Sherfane Rutherford.
Coach Sammy expressed confidence in the squad’s ability to compete strongly against Sri Lanka. “The tour of Sri Lanka gives us a chance to test our depth and assess players in different situations, especially with several senior players missing out for various reasons, including a need for rest and rehabilitation from injury. We are confident in the squad’s ability to compete strongly against Sri Lanka,” Sammy stated in a release.
