As the countdown begins to a make-or-break three-match One Day International series against Sri Lanka kicking off June 3 in Jamaica, the West Indies men’s cricket team has secured the return of three high-profile players to their roster, injecting fresh depth and form into their squad ahead of a critical phase of 2027 ICC Men’s ODI World Cup qualification.
Powerful left-handed batter Shimron Hetmyer earns his recall off the back of a standout performance at the recent ICC Men’s T20 World Cup, where his aggressive batting caught the eye of selectors. Fast bowler Alzarri Joseph returns to competitive action after a near year-long layoff with a back injury that sidelined him in July 2024, while left-arm spinner Gudakesh Motie is back in the fold after being left out of the side’s November 2024 series against New Zealand. Hetmyer will join up with the squad ahead of the series’ third and final fixture, according to the team’s official announcement.
Led by captain Shai Hope, the West Indies – nicknamed the Men in Maroon – enter the series with tangible momentum on home soil: the side has notched four consecutive unbeaten ODI series wins on home turf, with their most recent victory coming against Pakistan in August 2024. A win against Sri Lanka would extend that streak to five, lifting both confidence and ranking points ahead of the qualification campaign.
This series marks the opening of a critical window for the West Indies, who are targeting automatic qualification for the 2027 ICC Men’s ODI World Cup, scheduled to take place across October and November 2025. Head coach Daren Sammy underscored the stakes of the upcoming fixtures in pre-series comments, noting that the team’s strong recent home form has already lifted the group’s confidence ahead of facing a tough opponent.
“Sri Lanka are a disciplined and skillful ODI unit, especially in conditions that demand patience and smart cricket,” Sammy explained. “For us, this series is about setting the standard: intensity in the field, clarity with the bat, and consistency with the ball. We want to play fearless but intelligent cricket and continue building the identity we believe West Indies cricket should represent.”
Sammy added that the coaching staff has emphasized collective consistency over individual match-winnning over the past 18 months, a strategy the side will lean on as they work to turn their home ground into an unbeatable fortress for ODI cricket. “In our desire to make home a fortress in ODI cricket, I want the team to win moments consistently rather than relying on individual brilliance which we have stressed for the last 18 months,” he said.
The full 15-man squad landed in Jamaica on May 31, after wrapping up a 10-day pre-series training camp at the Coolidge Cricket Ground in Antigua to fine-tune preparations. The full West Indies ODI squad is: Shai Hope (captain), 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 and Shamar Springer.