Cricket West Indies (CWI) has officially announced its 15-player roster for the upcoming 2026 ICC Men’s T20 World Cup, set to be co-hosted by India and Sri Lanka from February 7 to March 8. The selection, revealed through a digital presentation on January 26, features a blend of experienced campaigners and one surprising new face under the leadership of captain Shai Hope.
The squad retains several key figures from the 2024 tournament campaign, including Test captain Roston Chase, spin specialists Akeal Hosein and Gudakesh Motie, along with power hitters Rovman Powell, Sherfane Rutherford, and Romario Shepherd. The most conspicuous absence is explosive left-handed opener Evin Lewis, whose international future appears uncertain after he hinted at retirement via social media. Also missing from the lineup is recovering pace bowler Alzarri Joseph.
The most debated selection is 25-year-old Guyanese batsman Quentin Sampson, who receives his maiden World Cup call-up despite a modest debut series against Afghanistan in January where he scored 30, 2, and 3 across three matches. Sampson’s inclusion represents coach Daren Sammy’s calculated gamble on emerging talent.
Lewis, a veteran of 67 T20 internationals with 1,799 runs at a strike rate of 152.07, posted a cryptic message on Instagram suggesting his international career might be over: “Just wanna thank everyone who supported me in my ten years of international cricket, but I think the time has come for me to depart. Stay tuned.”
The two-time champions have been drawn into Group C alongside England, Italy, Nepal, and Scotland, who replaced Bangladesh as a late tournament addition. The West Indies will commence their campaign against Scotland on February 7 at Kolkata’s historic Eden Gardens stadium.