Top-order batter Kevin Wickham has received his first call-up to the West Indies Test team for the upcoming two-match series in Bangladesh. The 15-member squad will play its final series of the 2025-2027 ICC World Test Championship cycle.The first Test will begin on October 28 in Mirpur, while the second match will start on November 5 in Sylhet.White-ball captain Shai Hope has been rested for the series after playing across all three formats for an extended period. He is currently leading the West Indies in their white-ball series against India.
Wickham rewarded for strong domestic performances
The 23-year-old Wickham has earned his maiden senior-level Test call-up after an impressive run in the West Indies Championship.He scored three consecutive centuries in the competition, with his highest score being 153. Wickham has now hit six centuries in 25 first-class matches at an average of over 40.
Alzarri Joseph ruled out, Keemo Paul replaces him
Fast bowler Alzarri Joseph has been withdrawn from the squad led by Roston Chase following a routine medical assessment and consultation with specialists.Cricket West Indies (CWI) has decided to manage Joseph’s workload to reduce the risk of injury because of the increased physical demands of red-ball cricket.Joseph will continue to work with the CWI medical team and specialists as he prepares to return to the longer format.All-rounder Keemo Paul has been named as Joseph’s replacement for the Bangladesh series.
John Campbell returns to the squad
Opener John Campbell is back in the squad after recovering from a hamstring injury. The injury had ruled him out of the home series against Pakistan.The rest of the squad remains the same as the group that beat Sri Lanka and drew its series against Pakistan during the summer.Hope has been rested as the West Indies manage his workload ahead of the ICC Cricket World Cup Qualifier, scheduled for February next year.
Daren Sammy sets sights on WTC rankings
West Indies head coach Daren Sammy said the team wants to improve its position in the World Test Championship standings by winning the Bangladesh series.“At the start of this World Test Championship cycle we set ourselves goals, and one of them was to finish in the top half of the rankings.“Winning this series would move us closer to it. Playing Bangladesh in their own conditions will be challenging, and we’re ready for that,” head coach Daren Sammy said in a CWI statement.A series victory could help the West Indies climb to sixth in the ICC Test rankings at the end of the current cycle. The team finished the 2023-2025 cycle in eighth place.
West Indies to arrive in Bangladesh on October 18
The full West Indies squad will reach Bangladesh on October 18. The visitors will then play a three-day warm-up match in Dhaka from October 22 to 24 before the Test series begins.
West Indies Test squad for Bangladesh tour
Roston Chase (C), Jomel Warrican (VC), Joshua Bishop, John Campbell, Tagenarine Chanderpaul, Joshua Da Silva, Justin Greaves, Kavem Hodge, Amir Jangoo, Shamar Joseph, Brandon King, Keemo Paul, Kemar Roach, Jayden Seales, Kevin Wickham.