(CMC) – Veteran all-rounders Jason Holder and Andre Russell have both been rested for the West Indies’ upcoming T20 series against South Africa, which bowls off on Friday.
Cricket West Indies (CWI) announced a 15-member squad yesterday to face South Africa in three T20 internationals to be played in Trinidad and Tobago.
While Rovman Powell has been expectedly retained as captain, neither Holder nor Russell was named.
Director of Cricket at CWI, Miles Bascombe, said a decision was taken to rest both players.
“Andre Russell requested a period of rest and recovery as well as Jason Holder, who played five back-to-back five Tests against England and South Africa.
“During this period, they will work closely with the CWI science and medicine team,” Bascombe revealed.
The West Indies have won four of their last five T20 series, and head coach Daren Sammy said he expected the team to do well.
‘Facing a strong South Africa side is an excellent opportunity for our team to reset and refocus with our game plan. We have played them recently and had mixed results, so this should be an exciting and important series.
“I’m confident in the squad we’ve 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,” Sammy said.
The West Indies have also made three changes to their T20 World Cup squad.
Left-arm spinner Fabian Allen, fast bowler Matthew Forde, and stylish batsman Alick Athanaze, who also took part in the just concluded Test series, have all been added.
Opener Brandon King, who was injured in the T20 World Cup, is also absent from the squad, along with pacer Alzarri Joseph, who was rested for the two-match Test series.
Roston Chase has been named as vice-captain for the series.
The West Indies, currently ranked fourth – one spot ahead of South Africa – will be looking for revenge after the Proteas defeated them at the Super 8 stage of the tournament before going on to lose to India in the final.
SQUAD
West Indies: Rovman Powell (captain), Roston Chase (vice-captain), 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.
Management: Daren Sammy (head coach), Rayon Griffith (assistant coach), Floyd Reifer (assisted coach), Ramesh Subasinghe (assistant coach), Denis Byam (physiotherapist), Ronald Rogers (strength and conditioning coach), Fitzbert Alleyne (team masseuse), Rawle Lewis (team manager), and Avenesh Seetaram (team analyst).
MATCH SCHEDULE
August 23: 1st T20I, West Indies vs. South Africa at the Brian Lara Cricket Academy.
August 25: 2nd T20I West Indies vs. South Africa at the Brian Lara Cricket Academy.
August 27: 3rd T20I West Indies vs. South Africa at the Brian Lara Cricket Academy.
