Young opener Kamil Pooran has received his maiden international call-up to the West Indies squad for the upcoming five-match T20I series in India. Pooran’s selection follows a breakout debut season in the Caribbean Premier League with the Saint Lucia Kings, where he tallied 273 runs across eight matches at a notable strike rate of 159.34. Joining him in the T20I squad are batter Quentin Sampson and all-rounder Keemo Paul, both of whom have earned recalls to the international setup.
The tour management has opted to grant all-rounder Jason Holder a rest period, acknowledging his status as a key component of the T20I structure. Meanwhile, Shimron Hetmyer will miss the ODI leg of the tour, scheduled between September 27 and October 3, to accommodate an ‘extended recovery period’ following his CPL campaign. Cricket West Indies emphasized that Hetmyer remains fully committed to the team’s long-term 50-over objectives and will rejoin the squad for the T20I series starting October 6.
The ODI roster maintains a familiar core, similar to the group that competed against New Zealand in July. Selectors have recalled 19-year-old Jewel Andrew—who is also featured in the T20I squad—to cover for the absence of Ackeem Auguste, who is currently undergoing rehabilitation after surgery. Additionally, opener John Campbell returns to the ODI side after recovering from an injury that sidelined him for the final two matches of the New Zealand series. While the second ODI on September 30 marks the end of the current cycle for automatic World Cup qualification, the West Indies have already been relegated to next year’s qualifying rounds.
Despite this, head coach Daren Sammy remains focused on the strategic value of the upcoming matches. Speaking on the significance of the tour, which begins with the first ODI in Thiruvananthapuram on September 27, Sammy noted, “Playing against the top team in the world presents us with a chance to fine tune and improve our performances as an ODI team which has seen quality performances across the cycle.” He added that the series provides a vital platform to evaluate players stepping into key roles with a long-term focus on the 2027 World Cup.
The West Indies ODI squad includes Shai Hope (captain), Jewel Andrew, John Campbell, Keacy Carty, Roston Chase, Matthew Forde, Justin Greaves, Amir Jangoo, Alzarri Joseph, Shamar Joseph, Vitel Lawes, Gudakesh Motie, Keemo Paul, Sherfane Rutherford, and Jayden Seales. The T20I squad features Shai Hope (captain), Jewel Andrew, Roston Chase, Matthew Forde, Shimron Hetmyer, Akeal Hosein, Shamar Joseph, Gudakesh Motie, Keemo Paul, Kamil Pooran, Rovman Powell, Sherfane Rutherford, Quentin Sampson, Romario Shepherd, and Shamar Springer. The report also notes that last featuring in the 2023 World Cup Qualifiers in Zimbabwe, the former captain hasn’t played an ODI in over three years anyway. The report also notes that the ODI squad retains a largely familiar look to the one that went down 3-2 to New Zealand in July.
