By Travis Seymour | November 8, 2024
Cricket West Indies has announced a 15-man squad for the upcoming T20 series against England, with five Guyanese players making the cut.
The series, dubbed the “Rivalry” T20 series, will kick off this weekend at the Kensington Oval in Barbados.
The selected Guyanese players are Sherfane Rutherford, Romario Shepherd, Gudakesh Motie, Shimron Hetmyer, and Shamar Joseph.
They will join captain Rovman Powell, Roston Chase, Matthew Forde, Terrance Hinds, Shai Hope, Akeal Hosein, Brandon King, Evin Lewis, Nicholas Pooran, and veteran all-rounder Andre Russell in the West Indies squad.
However, the squad will be without fast bowler Alzarri Joseph, who has been given a two-match suspension following an on-field altercation with ODI captain Shai Hope earlier this week.
Matthew Forde, who was named Player of the Series in the recent CG United ODI series, has been brought in to replace Joseph.
The series will feature two T20 matches in Barbados, followed by three games in Saint Lucia on November 14, 16, and 17.
The West Indies team enters the series on a high, having gone unbeaten in four consecutive T20 International Series since 2023.
They currently hold the fourth spot in the world rankings, trailing only India, Australia, and England.
Skipper Rovman Powell expressed confidence in the team’s readiness for the challenge, despite the absence of Joseph.
He emphasized the importance of individual performances and the team’s depth, with the return of key players like Hosein, Hetmyer, Pooran, and Russell, who missed the Sri Lanka tour due to personal reasons.
Powell believes that with strong performances, the West Indies team can continue their successful run.