West Indies T20 Squad for South Africa announced; no IPL 2024 star in the side

The West Indies Cricket Board has announced their official squad for their upcoming home T20I series against South Africa ahead of the ICC T20 World Cup 2024. 

West Indies and South Africa both will be playing this series as part of the preparation for the T20 World Cup which the Windies are hosting along with the USA. This is the first time that a T20 WC edition is being co-hosted and it is also the first time that the United States of America is hosting an ICC event. 

Moreover, West Indies are hosting an international event for the first time since 2010 when they played host to the 3rd ICC T20 World Cup edition. Paul Collingwood's England team were the winners of that WC edition and the same English team will be entering this one as the reigning champions from the 2022 WC. 

West Indies' squad composition for the T20 World Cup 

The West Indies Men's selection committee led by Desmond Haynes has picked up a decent-looking 15-man squad for the series against the Proteas. The 2-time ODI World Cup winners do miss a few senior players who will be representing the team at the ICC T20 World Cup 2024. 

Those absentees include captain Rovman Powell, Shimron Hetmeyer, Andre Russell, and Alzarri Joseph, whose respective teams have reached the IPL 2024 playoffs. Other than these 4, right-hand and left-hand batters Shai Hope and Nicholas Pooran, who were parts of Delhi Capitals and Lucknow Super Giants in the IPL, have been rested until May 27th. 

With these 6 senior players set to be absent, top-order batsman Brandon King has been given the onus to captain the West Indies in the 3-match series. All-rounder Roston Chase will be the Vice-captain of the team. 

As for the squad composition, the West Indies have included batter Fabian Allen, batting All-rounder Alick Athanaze, and wicket-keeper Johnson Charles. Andre Fletcher and Matthew Forde, who missed out on the T20 WC squad, have been picked in the squad. 

West Indies T20 World Cup 2024 squad- Jason Holder, Akeal Hosein, Shamar Joseph, Kyle Mayers, Gudakesh Motie, and Romario Shepherd have also been added. Odeb McCoy and Hayden Walsh Jr are also set to be a part of the squad. Former West Indies captain Daren Sammy will be the head coach while Floyd Reifer and Rayon Griffith will be Sammy's Assistants for the series. 

When will the series begin? 

The 3-match T20I series between West Indies and South Africa will begin from May 23rd onwards at Sabina Park in Jamaica. The following 2 matches will take place on the 25th and 26th of May at the very same venue.

At the T20 World Cup 2024, the Windies will begin their campaign on June 2nd against Papua New Guinea followed by a clash against Uganda on June 8th. The 2-time Champions will then take on New Zealand and Afghanistan in their last two Group games on 12th and 17th June

West Indies T20 squad vs South Africa: 

Brandon King (Captain), Roston Chase (Vice-Captain), Fabian Allen, Alick Athanaze, Johnson Charles, Andre Fletcher,  Matthew Forde, Jason Holder, Akeal Hosein, Shamar Joseph, Kyle Mayers, Obed McCoy, Gudakesh Motie, Romario Shepherd and Hayden Walsh Jr.