West Indies Announce T20 World Cup Squad: Quentin Sampson, Shamar Joseph Included

West Indies have unveiled their 15-member squad for the upcoming ICC Men’s T20 World Cup 2026, with hard-hitting batter Quentin Sampson and fast-bowling sensation Shamar Joseph earning spots in the group to be led by Shai Hope.

Every shot, every celebration & and every moment of hope, we show the world who we are!🌴

Here are the men to carry the hopes and dreams of every West Indian at the ICC Men’s T20 World Cup in India & Sri Lanka.🏆 #WT20 #MaroonSpirit pic.twitter.com/R7HoWvyjTz

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The 25-year-old Sampson, who made his T20I debut in the recent series against Afghanistan, gets the nod on the back of a strong Caribbean Premier League (CPL) campaign where he scored 241 runs in nine innings at a strike rate of 151.57 for Guyana Amazon Warriors. Despite a modest return against Afghanistan, the selectors have backed his explosive potential.

Shamar Joseph, whose rise in Test cricket captured global attention, has also been included despite a stop-start 2025 hampered by injuries. He missed tours of India and Bangladesh before returning in the Afghanistan series and playing limited CPL matches.

The squad sees the return of several experienced campaigners who were rested or unavailable for the Afghanistan series, including Roston Chase, Akeal Hosein, Sherfane Rutherford, Jason Holder, Rovman Powell, and Romario Shepherd.

The pace attack features Joseph alongside Holder, Matthew Forde, and Jayden Seales, while spin duties will be handled by Hosein, with support from Chase and Gudakesh Motie.

Notable omissions include opener Evin Lewis and fast bowler Alzarri Joseph, both of whom have battled injuries recently.

The two-time champions are placed in Group C alongside England, Scotland, Nepal, and Italy. They will begin their campaign against Scotland on February 7 at Eden Gardens, Kolkata—the venue of their last T20 World Cup triumph in 2016.

West Indies T20 World Cup Squad:

Shai Hope (c), Shimron Hetmyer, Johnson Charles, Brandon King, Roston Chase, Jason Holder, Rovman Powell, Sherfane Rutherford, Romario Shepherd, Quentin Sampson, Akeal Hosein, Gudakesh Motie, Shamar Joseph, Jayden Seales, Matthew Forde

                                               

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