The West Indies have named a 14-member squad for the upcoming T20I series against Pakistan, making three notable changes following a forgettable 5-0 whitewash at the hands of Australia. The trio of Shimron Hetmyer, Brandon King, and Alzarri Joseph have been ruled out, making way for Alick Athanaze, Shamar Joseph, and Johnson Charles to return to the T20I setup.
The Caribbean side’s recent T20I series against Australia produced an underwhelming result despite a few individual standouts. King and Hetmyer were in good touch, scoring over 100 runs each during the five-match series. However, both suffered side strains during the final game in Basseterre, making them unavailable for the Pakistan series starting July 31 in Florida, USA.
Fast bowler Alzarri Joseph, who has been part of the West Indies’ packed international schedule, has been rested due to workload management. The team is keeping a close watch on fitness levels ahead of the ODI series against Pakistan, which begins on August 8.
Meanwhile, the West Indies selectors have opted for a mix of young and experienced line-up. Shamar Joseph is expected to be a like-for-like replacement for Alzarri in the pace attack. The 24-year-old could provide the X-factor the Windies lacked in Australia. Alick Athanaze is likely to take Hetmyer’s place in the middle order. The left-hander is eyeing a spot ahead of the T20 World Cup next year.
Veteran opener Johnson Charles returns to the squad and is expected to open the innings alongside captain Shai Hope. Furthermore, Keacy Carty, who was initially called in as cover during the Australia series, retains his spot following solid performances. Jason Holder and Romario Shepherd are expected to provide depth with both bat and ball, while spinners Akeal Hosein and Gudakesh Motie will play an important role in the bowling attack.
West Indies T20I squad for Pakistan series:
Shai Hope (C), Jewel Andrew, Alick Athanaze, Jediah Blades, Keacy Carty, Johnson Charles, Roston Chase, Matthew Forde, Jason Holder, Akeal Hosein, Shamar Joseph, Gudakesh Motie, Sherfane Rutherford, Romario Shepherd
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