In the three-match T20I series that West Indies will play at home against South Africa, they will be missing seasoned all-rounders Jason Holder and Andre Russell. Rovman Powell will captain a formidable team for the series, which begins on August 24.
Key all-rounders rested for T20I series against South Africa
In their T20I match against the Proteas, West Indies will want to build on their current form even though the team had a 1-0 setback to South Africa in the ICC World Test Championship series.
After losing to South Africa in their most recent home match, the West Indies, who had won four of their previous five bilateral T20I series, were eliminated from contention for the ICC Men’s T20 World Cup 2024 semi-final.
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“Facing a strong South Africa side is an excellent opportunity for our team to reset and refocus with our game plan,” Miles Bascombe, Director of Cricket at Cricket West Indies , said as quoted by ICC.
“We have played them recently and had mixed results, so this should be an exciting and important series. I am confident in the squad we have 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.”
Jason Holder and Andre Russell, two veteran all-rounders, are conspicuously absent from the team. Holder has been rested after five consecutive Test matches against South Africa and England, despite Russell’s desire for a week off for recuperation.
Alick Athanaze, who excelled in the Test series, and 22-year-old bowler Matthew Forde, who last appeared in the bilateral series against South Africa in May, have been added to the team to bolster it.
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For the three-match series, South Africa had already announced their team. The three T20 Internationals are scheduled on August 24–28.
West Indies T20I squad: Rovman Powell , Roston Chase , Alick Athanaze, Johnson Charles, Matthew Forde, Shimron Hetmyer, Fabian Allen, Shai Hope, Akeal Hosein, Shamar Joseph, Obed McCoy, Gudakesh Motie, Nicholas Pooran, Sherfane Rutherford, and Romario Shepherd.
