West Indies has confirmed its squad for the upcoming two-Test tour of Bangladesh, with senior players Alzarri Joseph and Shai Hope missing from the lineup. Fast bowler Joseph has been withdrawn as part of a workload management strategy following a medical assessment. The team’s medical staff and specialists will continue working with the 29-year-old to ensure his physical readiness for the longest format, noting the significant demands and injury risks associated with bowling long spells in back-to-back matches.
White-ball captain Shai Hope has also been granted a rest period after a busy stretch across all three formats. Cricket West Indies indicated that this absence is designed to manage his workload ahead of the ICC Men’s Cricket World Cup Qualifier, which is set to take place in February 2027. All-rounder Keemo Paul has been selected as the replacement for Joseph in the 15-member touring group. His availability for shorter formats has not been ruled out.
The series marks a significant opportunity for 23-year-old Kevin Wickham, who has earned his maiden Test call-up. His selection follows a dominant domestic performance where he registered three consecutive centuries during the 2026 West Indies Championship. That streak pushed his first-class career total to six hundreds across 25 matches. Additionally, opening batsman John Campbell returns to the fold, having recovered from the hamstring injury that sidelined him during the recent home series against Pakistan. Winning this series would move us closer to it.
Currently positioned eighth in the World Test Championship rankings, the West Indies are looking to finish the cycle in the top half of the table. Head coach Daren Sammy emphasized that a positive result in Bangladesh is crucial to meeting that objective. He acknowledged the difficulty of facing the hosts in their home environment but stated the team is prepared for the task. The tour kicks off with the first Test in Mirpur on October 28, followed by the second encounter in Sylhet, running from November 5 to 9. And we’re ready for that,” Sammy said, playing Bangladesh in their own conditions will be challenging.
The full traveling squad includes: Roston Chase (captain), Jomel Warrican (vice-captain), 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, and Kevin Wickham.
