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The West Indies have announced their 15-member squad for the upcoming five-match T20I series against New Zealand, beginning November 5 in Auckland. While the return of Matthew Forde marks a boost for the team’s pace department, left-arm spinner Gudakesh Motie has been left out of the squad to undergo remedial work on his bowling action following a recent dip in form.
Gudakesh Motie sidelined for technical corrections
Motie’s exclusion comes after an inconsistent showing during the tour of Bangladesh, where he struggled to make an impact in both ODIs and T20Is. Cricket West Indies (CWI) confirmed that the 29-year-old will work with specialists from the Royals Sports Group to address technical flaws in his action before joining the Paarl Royals for the SA20 2024-25 season in December.
Motie, known for his ability to extract sharp turn and control the middle overs, recorded expensive figures of 0/44, 3/65, and 1/53 in the ODIs against Bangladesh and bowled just one over in the T20I series. His absence creates an opportunity for Khary Pierre and Akeal Hosein to share spin duties alongside Roston Chase.
Matthew Forde returns, Shamar Springer earns call-up
Pacer Matthew Forde, who missed action since July due to a shoulder injury, has completed his rehabilitation and is set to make his international comeback. The 22-year-old has 17 wickets from 13 T20Is and will be crucial in West Indies’ pace attack, which has been weakened by injuries to Ramon Simmons and Jediah Blades.
In a move to strengthen the fast-bowling unit, all-rounder Shamar Springer has been included. The 26-year-old has featured in two T20Is so far, claiming two wickets, and will provide depth alongside established seamers Jason Holder, Romario Shepherd, and Jayden Seales. Meanwhile, promising pacer Shamar Joseph remains unavailable due to shoulder discomfort sustained during training in Bangladesh last month.
Also READ: New Zealand announces squad for West Indies T20Is; Matt Henry rested, Kyle Jamieson returns
Shai Hope to lead a balanced unit
Shai Hope will continue to lead the side, guiding a mix of seasoned campaigners and young prospects. The batting lineup features the likes of Brandon King, Rovman Powell, Sherfane Rutherford, Ackeem Auguste, Amir Jangoo, and Alick Athanaze. With a blend of power-hitters and versatile all-rounders, West Indies will look to fine-tune their combinations ahead of next year’s T20 World Cup.
The series begins at Eden Park in Auckland on November 5, followed by matches in Mount Maunganui, Napier, Dunedin, and Wellington between November 5 and 13. The tour provides an opportunity for the Caribbean side to assess its bench strength and build momentum against a competitive New Zealand outfit.
West Indies T20I squad for New Zealand:
Shai Hope (c), Alick Athanaze, Ackeem Auguste, Roston Chase, Matthew Forde, Jason Holder, Akeal Hosein, Amir Jangoo, Brandon King, Khary Pierre, Rovman Powell, Sherfane Rutherford, Jayden Seales, Romario Shepherd, Shamar Springer.
