Cricket West Indies (CWI) has announced a 15-man squad for an ODI series against Sri Lanka, with three matches set to be played on Monday. The selection brings back left-handed batter Shimron Hetmyer and fast bowler Alzarri Joseph, while spinner Gudakesh Motie also returns after missing a recent tour.
Key takeaways
- Cricket West Indies named a 15-member ODI squad for the three-match series versus Sri Lanka starting this week.
- Shimron Hetmyer returns to West Indies’ ODI plans, joining the group ahead of the third and final game.
- Alzarri Joseph is set to play his first international match since the Caribbean tour of Australia last year after a back injury kept him sidelined since July 2025.
- Gudakesh Motie is included again after missing the New Zealand tour in November.
- The ODI clashes are scheduled for June 3, June 6 and June 8 at Sabina Park in Kingston, Jamaica.
- Skipper Shai Hope will lead a side aiming to extend a home ODI run of five straight wins.
Squad updates and the World Cup qualification push
The ODI series is viewed as the start of a vital stretch in West Indies’ build-up toward automatic qualification for the 2027 ICC Men’s ODI World Cup. With the matches scheduled at Sabina Park in Kingston on June 3, June 6 and June 8, CWI will treat the contests as more than just a head-to-head—each game becomes a step in maintaining momentum in the qualification race.
For Hetmyer, the call-up marks his reintegration into the ODI setup. He will arrive with the squad ahead of the third and final match, aligning with CWI’s longer-term planning toward the 2027 World Cup cycle. Joseph also returns after a lengthy period out of competitive action, with CWI expecting the right-arm quick to feature internationally for the first time since Australia toured the Caribbean last year. His absence dates back to July 2025, when a back injury ruled him out.
Motie completes the headline selection story. The left-arm spinner had missed the tour of New Zealand in November, but has now been brought back into the ODI group for this series.
Hope to lead as West Indies look to keep home momentum rolling
Shai Hope will captain the side as West Indies attempt to stretch their impressive unbeaten home ODI record to five consecutive victories. Their most recent success at home came against Pakistan in August 2025, and the team will be keen to maintain that level of performance across the series against a disciplined Sri Lankan unit.
Head coach Daren Sammy said the team’s strong form at home has provided extra confidence heading into a contest with a “formidable opponent.” He stressed that Sri Lanka are a well-drilled ODI side, particularly in situations that require restraint and smart decision-making, and that West Indies’ focus will be on raising the standard of their cricket.
Sammy outlined the priorities for the series: maintaining intensity in the field, showing clarity with the bat, and being consistent with the ball. He also emphasized a style of play that is fearless yet intelligent, adding that the squad wants to keep building the identity they believe West Indies cricket should represent.
He further underlined West Indies’ ambition to make home conditions difficult to play in across ODI cricket. Sammy’s message was that the team should win “moments” regularly, rather than depending on isolated bursts of individual brilliance—an approach he said the side has been reinforcing for the past 18 months.
After the ODIs: T20I series and a Test assignment
Once the three ODIs conclude, the teams will immediately switch formats, with a three-match T20I series also scheduled in Jamaica. After that, the tour will move to Antigua for a two-Test series, extending the itinerary beyond limited-overs cricket.
West Indies ODI squad
Shai Hope (c/wk), Ackeem Auguste, John Campbell, Keacy Carty, Roston Chase, Matthew Forde, Justin Greaves, Shimron Hetmyer, Amir Jangoo, Alzarri Joseph, Shamar Joseph, Gudakesh Motie, Sherfane Rutherford, Jayden Seales, Shamar Springer.
