West Indies Announces T20 Squad for Afghanistan Series
In a recent announcement, Cricket West Indies (CWI) has unveiled its 16-member squad for the upcoming three-match T20 International series against Afghanistan. The matches are scheduled to take place at the Dubai Cricket International Stadium in the United Arab Emirates (UAE) from January 19 to 22, 2026.
This series is expected to serve as crucial preparation for the ICC Men’s T20 World Cup, which is set to begin on February 6, 2026. The final squad for the World Cup is expected to be announced ahead of the three-match T20I series against South Africa, scheduled for January 27–31, 2026.
Brandon King Takes the Helm
With the regular T20 captain, Shai Hope, unavailable due to commitments in the ongoing SA20 tournament, Brandon King has been appointed as the captain for this series. King, who has previously led the West Indies in T20 Internationals, including during the home series against South Africa in early 2024, brings valuable leadership experience into this assignment.
Return of Key Players
Shamar Joseph and Evin Lewis are set to return to action after successfully clearing return-to-play protocols following their recovery from injuries sustained in previous series. Alzarri Joseph, who was also sidelined by injury towards the end of 2025, has been making encouraging progress but will not be included at this stage as a precaution following a medical review. He will continue to be monitored and assessed for potential selection in the World Cup squad.
New Faces in the Squad
Quentin Sampson, the Breakout Player of the 2025 Caribbean Premier League, has earned his maiden international call-up. He replaces Rovman Powell, who has been rested for the series alongside Jason Holder and Romario Shepherd as part of workload management.
Coach's Insights
Head Coach, Daren Sammy, emphasized the importance of this series in the lead-up to the ICC World Cup. “The opportunity to play competitive matches in subcontinental conditions is ideal, as it assists with our preparations and confidence building ahead of what will be a competitive T20 World Cup,” Sammy noted.
“It also presents a valuable platform to assess players who would’ve missed significant time towards the end of 2025, as well as those stepping into important roles for this series, prior to the selection of the final squad for the international tournament,” he added.
Squad Details
The West Indies T20 squad for the series against Afghanistan is as follows:
- Brandon King (Captain)
- Alick Athanaze
- Keacy Carty
- Johnson Charles
- Matthew Forde
- Justin Greaves
- Shimron Hetmyer
- Amir Jangoo
- Shamar Joseph
- Evin Lewis
- Gudakesh Motie
- Khary Pierre
- Quentin Sampson
- Jayden Seales
- Ramon Simmonds
- Shamar Springer
Team Management Unit
- Rawl Lewis - Team Manager
- Daren Sammy - Head Coach
- Floyd Reifer - Assistant Coach (Batting)
- Ravi Rampaul - Assistant Coach (Bowling)
- Rayon Griffith - Assistant Coach (Fielding)
- Physiotherapist: Dr Denis Byam
- Strength & Conditioning Coach: Darc Browne
- Massage Therapist: Fitzbert Alleyne
- Performance Analyst: Avenesh Seetaram
- Content & Media Officer: Jerome Foster
Tour Schedule
The full tour schedule for the series is as follows:
- 1st T20I: January 19, 2026 @ Dubai, UAE
- 2nd T20I: January 21, 2026 @ Dubai, UAE
- 3rd T20I: January 22, 2026 @ Dubai, UAE
The squad is scheduled to depart the Caribbean on January 14, 2026, and is expected to arrive in the UAE on January 16, 2026.
Preparations for the T20 World Cup
The series against Afghanistan is a part of the West Indies' broader preparations for the ICC T20 World Cup. With several key players returning to the squad and new faces making their international debut, the team is expected to be in a strong position to challenge for a spot in the knockout stages of the tournament.
Cricket enthusiasts around the globe will be keeping a close eye on how the West Indies perform in this series, as it will provide valuable insights into their potential for the World Cup.
