Andre Russell will miss West Indies’ upcoming three-match T20I sequence at dwelling in opposition to South Africa as he has “requested a interval of relaxation and restoration,” in line with Miles Bascombe, CWI’s director of cricket. Russell, 36, was a part of West Indies’ run to the Tremendous Eight throughout their dwelling World Cup in June and was extra lately in motion for London Spirit within the Hundred.
Russell and Jason Holder, who has additionally been rested for the T20Is will work intently with the CWI science and medication staff. Alzarri Joseph, who was West Indies’ vice-captain in the course of the T20 World Cup and missed the Checks in opposition to South Africa, will proceed to take break day.
West Indies’ red-ball coach Andre Coley had laid out a long-term outlook with reference to Alzarri’s workload administration in a latest interview with ESPNcricinfo, “So far as Alzarri is worried, it at all times helps to have a time frame away from the sport to work in your particular person expertise, since you might get drawn into shifting from one event to the subsequent and would possibly truly lose a few of your expertise.
“So it is constructing in the correct amount of relaxation time the place he does nothing, however then even have little durations the place he’s not in competitors. That approach he’ll be capable of create extra management round his bowling.”
Opening batter Brandon King may also miss this sequence as he continues to get well from the aspect pressure he had sustained throughout West Indies’ Tremendous Eight fixture in opposition to England in June. King has not performed a aggressive recreation since. In his absence, Shai Hope might open the batting with Johnson Charles whereas rookie Alick Athanaze might additionally do a job on the high.
Shimron Hetmyer, who did not characteristic in a single recreation on the 2024 T20 World Cup, retained his place within the squad. Hetmyer had final performed a T20I for West Indies in December 2023.
“Going through a robust South Africa aspect is a wonderful alternative for our staff to reset and refocus with our recreation plan,” Daren Sammy, West Indies’ white-ball coach, mentioned in a CWI assertion. “We now have performed them lately and had combined outcomes, so this ought to be an thrilling and necessary sequence. I am assured within the squad we have chosen, and with eyes already on the subsequent T20 World Cup in 2026, I do know the blokes can be eager to point out their starvation for fulfillment.”
Together with Athanaze, allrounder Matthew Forde has been picked with an eye fixed on the 2026 T20 World Cup. Forde can swing the brand new ball and hit sixes decrease down the order and has flourished beneath Sammy at St Lucia Kings within the CPL.
Spin-bowling allrounder Fabian Allen returned to the aspect, having missed the minimize for the T20 World Cup. He’ll bolster a spin assault that already consists of Akeal Hosein, Gudakesh Motie and Roston Chase. Allen had gained the Lanka Premier League (LPL) with Jaffna Kings in July.
West Indies squad for SA T20Is
Rovman Powell (capt), Roston Chase (vice-capt), Alick Athanaze, Fabian Allen, Johnson Charles, Matthew Forde, Shimron Hetmyer, Shai Hope, Akeal Hosein, Shamar Joseph, Obed McCoy, Gudakesh Motie, Nicholas Pooran, Sherfane Rutherford, Romario Shepherd
![WI vs AUS [WATCH]: Shai Hope’s scintillating straight drive as West Indies fightback against Australia on Day 2 of first Test](https://i3.wp.com/crickettimes.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/06/Shai-Hopes-scintillating-straight-drive.webp?w=360&resize=360,180&ssl=1 "WI vs AUS [WATCH]: Shai Hope’s scintillating straight drive as West Indies fightback against Australia on Day 2 of first Test")
