T20 World Cup 2026: West Indies name 15-member squad, Quentin Sampson earns surprise call-up

West Indies have announced a 15-member squad for the ICC Men’s T20 World Cup 2026, set to be held in India and Sri Lanka. The squad includes Quentin Sampson, while fast bowler Alzarri Joseph misses out due to injury. The same group of players will also feature in a three-match T20I series against South Africa, beginning in Paarl on Tuesday, January 27.

Several notable changes have taken place since West Indies co-hosted the previous T20 World Cup in 2024. Nicholas Pooran and Andre Russell, two of the biggest names in West Indies cricket, have since retired from international cricket. Despite their absence, the side still boasts significant experience, with Jason Holder and Johnson Charles forming the backbone of the squad. Holder has featured in 86 T20 Internationals, while the upcoming tournament will mark Charles’ fifth T20 World Cup appearance for West Indies.

Charles and current head coach Daren Sammy were part of West Indies’ historic title-winning campaign in India in 2016. Holder was also included in that squad, although he did not play a match during the tournament. Overall, barring the retirements of Pooran and Russell, the 2026 squad bears a strong resemblance to the team that competed two years ago.

The only surprise inclusion is Sampson, who made his T20I debut in the recent series against Afghanistan. While he managed just 35 runs in three innings during that series, his selection was largely influenced by an impressive 2025 Caribbean Premier League (CPL) campaign with the Guyana Amazon Warriors. Making his T20 debut in that tournament, the 25-year-old scored 241 runs at a strike rate of 151.57, helping GAW finish as runners-up.

West Indies head into the South Africa series on the back of a 2-1 T20I series loss to Afghanistan. Several regulars, including captain Shai Hope, Roston Chase, Akeal Hosein, and Sherfane Rutherford, were unavailable for that series due to commitments in the SA20. Following the opener in Paarl, the series will move to Centurion and Johannesburg, which will host the remaining two matches on January 29 and 31, respectively.

Seven days after the conclusion of the South Africa series, West Indies will begin their T20 World Cup 2026 campaign. They are scheduled to face Scotland in their opening group match in Kolkata on the opening day of the tournament, followed by clashes against England (February 11), Nepal (February 15), and Italy (February 19).

West Indies squad for T20 World Cup 2026 and T20Is vs SA

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