Cricket West Indies announced their 15-member squad for the upcoming five-game T20I series against England on Sunday.
One of the main takeaways from the T20I squad was the inclusion of the 35-year-old batting all-rounder Andre Russell. The Caribbean hitman last played a T20I match in 2021 against Australia. After almost two years, he has been called up for a 20-over series.
Rovman Powell will lead the Caribbean side in the five-match series, which will start from December 13 and conclude on December 22. Wicketkeeper-batter Shai Hope has been named the vice-captain.
Meanwhile, Nicholas Pooran and Jason Holder, who were not called up for the ODI series against England, have been named in the 15-member squad.
Bowling all-rounder Gudakesh Motie, who impressed in the ODI series with four wickets in three games, has also been added to the five-match T20I series. On the other hand, Romario Shepherd, who scalped five wickets in the 50-over series, was included in the squad chart.
While announcing the team, Cricket West Indies chief selector Desmond Haynes said that this would be their last T20I series of the year before they host the 2024 T20 World Cup along with the USA. “This will be the final home T20I series for the West Indies in 2023 as they prepare to be one of the two host teams for the ICC Men’s T20 World Cup in the West Indies and USA in June 2024,” Haynes said.
The first T20I match will take place in Barbados, while the next two games will be held in Grenada. The final two matches will be played in Trinidad.