Cricket West Indies (CWI) has announced a strategic departure from other cricketing nations by postponing its final squad selection for the upcoming ICC T20 World Cup. The decision means the team roster will remain undecided until the conclusion of a three-match T20 International series against Afghanistan, scheduled for January 19-22.
Miles Bascombe, CWI’s Director of Cricket, clarified the organization’s position in a recent television interview. He revealed that the official World Cup squad will be formally announced within 48 hours following the final match against Afghanistan on January 22nd. This timeline places the West Indies among the last teams to confirm their tournament lineup.
While most participating countries have already disclosed their provisional squads for the February 7-March 8 tournament co-hosted by India and Sri Lanka, the West Indies submitted only the mandatory provisional list to the International Cricket Council (ICC). Bascombe explained that CWI explicitly informed the ICC about their intentional delay, preferring to use the Afghanistan series as a final evaluation period rather than risk subsequent changes to an early announcement.
The director emphasized the strategic advantage of having competitive matches against both Afghanistan and South Africa preceding World Cup warm-up games. This approach allows selectors to assess player form and team dynamics under actual match conditions before finalizing their tournament roster, potentially providing a competitive edge through more informed decision-making.