Cricket West Indies has announced a 16 player squad for the three match T20 International series against Afghanistan. The matches will be played at the Dubai International Cricket Stadium from January 19.
Regular T20 captain Shai Hope is not available as he is playing in the SA20. Because of this, Brandon King will lead the side. King has captained West Indies in T20 cricket before. He also led the team in the home series against South Africa in early 2024.
One of the key talking points is the inclusion of Quentin Sampson. He was the Breakout Player of the 2025 Caribbean Premier League and has earned his first international call up. Sampson replaces Rovman Powell in the squad. Powell has been rested along with Jason Holder and Romario Shepherd as part of workload management.
Evin Lewis and Shamar Joseph return to the team after recovering from injuries. Both players have cleared their return to play protocols following issues picked up in earlier assignments.
Fast bowler Alzarri Joseph has not been included. He is still recovering from an injury that ruled him out late in 2025. The team management will continue to track his progress as they plan for the T20 World Cup.
Head coach Daren Sammy said the series will be important for preparation. He stressed the value of playing in subcontinental style conditions while testing team combinations and assessing returning players. Sammy said the matches will help the team build confidence ahead of the T20 World Cup.
West Indies will confirm their final 15 member World Cup squad before the next T20 series against South Africa. That series is scheduled to take place from January 27 to 31.
West Indies T20I squad vs Afghanistan
Brandon King (captain), Alick Athanaze, Keacy Carty, Johnson Charles, Matthew Forde, Justin Greaves, Amir Jangoo, Shamar Joseph, Evin Lewis, Gudakesh Motie, Khary Pierre, Quentin Sampson, Jayden Seales, Ramon Simmonds, Shamar Springer, Shimron Hetmyer.
