West Indies have announced a 15-member squad for the ICC Men’s T20 World Cup 2026. The tournament will be held in India and Sri Lanka.
The squad includes young batter Quentin Sampson. Fast bowler Alzarri Joseph has missed out due to injury.
The same group of players will also take part in a three-match T20I series against South Africa. The series will begin in Paarl on Tuesday, January 27.
Nicholas Pooran and Andre Russell absent as experienced core remains
There have been some major changes since West Indies co-hosted the last T20 World Cup in 2024. Star players Nicholas Pooran and Andre Russell have retired from international cricket.
Despite their absence, the squad still has plenty of experience. Jason Holder and Johnson Charles remain key figures. Holder has played 86 T20 Internationals so far. The 2026 event will be Charles’ fifth T20 World Cup for West Indies.
Charles and head coach Daren Sammy were part of West Indies’ famous title-winning campaign in India in 2016. Holder was also in that squad, although he did not play any matches.
Apart from the retirements of Pooran and Russell, the 2026 squad closely resembles the team from two years ago.
The biggest surprise is the inclusion of Quentin Sampson. He made his T20I debut against Afghanistan recently. He scored only 35 runs in three innings in that series.
However, his selection was influenced by a strong 2025 Caribbean Premier League season. Playing for the Guyana Amazon Warriors, Sampson scored 241 runs at a strike rate of 151.57. He helped the team finish as runners-up.
West Indies enter the South Africa series after a 2-1 T20I series loss to Afghanistan. Several senior players were unavailable for that series due to SA20 commitments.
After the match in Paarl, the series will move to Centurion and Johannesburg on January 29 and 31.
Seven days later, West Indies will begin their T20 World Cup campaign. They will face Scotland in Kolkata, followed by matches against England, Nepal, and Italy.
West Indies squad for ICC Men’s T20 World Cup 2026
Shai Hope (capt), Johnson Charles, Roston Chase, Matthew Forde, Shimron Hetmyer, Jason Holder, Akeal Hosein, Shamar Joseph, Brandon King, Gudakesh Motie, Rovman Powell, Sherfane Rutherford, Quentin Sampson, Jayden Seales, Romario Shepherd.
ALSO READ When is Team India’s next Test Match after West Indies win? India’s updated WTC Rankings
