After conceding the Test series 1-0, hosts West Indies will be missing several big names in the upcoming three T20Is against South Africa at home. Andre Russell has been rested, on request, Cricket West Indies said in a statement on Sunday (August 18). After being part of the West Indies team that missed out on the semifinal berth at the 2024 Men’s T20 World Cup, Russell had then fulfilled his commitment to London Spirit in The Hundred 2024.
West Indies have announced a 15-man squad for their upcoming three-match T20I series with South Africa at home. Rovman Powell will continue to lead the side with Roston Chase as his deputy. Three big names though are missing from the squad including allrounders Andre Russell and Jason Holder along with right-arm pacer Alzarri Joseph.
All rounders Andre Russell and Jason Holder rested as West Indies announced 15-match squad for T20I series vs SA
Cricket West Indies (CWI) announced a 15-member squad for the upcoming T20I series against South Africa. Following the closely fought Test series, in which the Proteas secured a 1-0 win, the teams will face each other in three T20Is in Trinidad from August 23-27.
West Indies have made three changes to the squad that played at home in the recent T20 World Cup. All-rounders Andre Russell, Alzarri Joseph, and Kyle Mayers have been replaced by spin-bowling all-rounder Fabien Allen, pacer Matthew Forde, and talented batter Alick Athanaze. Jason Holder, who played in the recently concluded two-Test series, will miss the T20Is.
However, Director of Cricket, Miles Bascombe confirmed that Russell and Holder have been rested for a recovery period.
“Andre Russell requested a period of rest and recovery as well as Jason Holder who played five back-to-back five Tests against England and South Africa. During this period, they will work closely with the CWI science and medicine team,” stated Miles Bascombe (via Cricket West Indies).
Meanwhile, head coach Daren Sammy was upbeat about the South African T20Is and said:
“Facing a strong South Africa side is an excellent opportunity for our team to reset and refocus with our game plan. We have played them recently and had mixed results, so this should be an exciting and important series. I’m confident in the squad we’ve selected, and with eyes already on the next T20 World Cup in 2026, I know the guys will be keen to show their hunger for success.”
West Indies had won four of their last five bilateral T20Is series heading into the home World Cup. However, defeat to the Proteas in their final Super Eight game proved terminal as they were eliminated before the semi-final.
Despite that setback, the Caribbean side had previously won five out of six against South Africa in T20Is, including back-to-back bilateral series last and this year. Meanwhile, South Africa will look to continue their momentum from the Test series win and put behind their heartbreaking loss to India in the T20 World Cup final.
Rovman Powell will continue to lead the T20I side with all-rounder Roston Chase replacing Alzarri Joseph as his deputy.
West Indies 15 man squad for 3 T20Is vs South Africa
Along with Russell, former skipper Jason Holder has also been rested from the 15-member squad on account of workload management. Holder has played five back-to-back Tests for the country, in England and more recently against South Africa at home. The duo will now work closely with the CWI science and medicine team in this time-off.
Also missing from the squad is West Indies’ T20 World Cup vice-captain Alzarri Joseph, who did not feature in the two-match Test series against South Africa either. Brandon King, who suffered a side strain during West Indies’ Super Eight fixture against England in June, continues to be on the sidelines. Roston Chase has been named deputy to Rovman Powell for the series.
Amidst all the absentees, Shimron Hetmyer, who didn’t play a single World Cup game for West Indies, has managed to hold on to his spot despite his last T20I coming in December 2023 against England.
On the other hand, spin-bowling allrounder Fabian Allen makes a comeback to the side after the disappointment of missing out on a home World Cup. Allen had recently won the Lanka Premier League (LPL) with Jaffna Kings in July. All three T20Is are due to be played at the Brian Lara Stadium in Tarouba, and will interestingly be part of double-headers with the Women’s CPL 2024.
West Indies squad for SA T20Is: Rovman Powell (C), Roston Chase (VC), Alick Athanaze, Fabian Allen, Johnson Charles, Matthew Forde, Shimron Hetmyer, Shai Hope, Akeal Hossein, Shamar Joseph, Obed McCoy, Gudakesh Motie, Nicholas Pooran, Sherfane Rutherford, Romario Shepherd