West Indies captain, who scored three centuries against India recently, has been left out of the Tests squad vs Bangladesh. West Indies has named a 15-member squad for the two-Test series against Bangladesh, with white-ball captain Shai Hope rested. Hope, who has been a mainstay across formats, has been rested after an extended period of international cricket.
The series, West Indies’ final assignment in the 2025-27 World Test Championship cycle, begins with the first Test in Mirpur on 28 October and continues in Sylhet from 5 November. The West Indies side is taking crucial decisions and important steps so that they can choose key players along with resting those who recently contributed a lot.
West Indies captain out after scoring three centuries vs India; these players get maiden call-ups for Bangladesh Tests
The CWI said in a release:
“Shai Hope, the white-ball captain, is being rested for the series after an extended run across all three formats.”
The release further read:
“With the ICC Cricket World Cup Qualifier scheduled for February next year, CWI is managing his workload and wellness through the period in the lead up to the Qualifier.”
West Indies is prioritising the player’s workload and wellness ahead of the ICC Men’s Cricket World Cup Qualifier in February 2027 after the recent workload against India. Alzarri Joseph has also been withdrawn following a routine medical assessment and specialist consultation aimed at managing his workload. Meanwhile, three players have received their maiden call-up in the squad. The release said:
“With Joseph’s agreement, Cricket West Indies (CWI) has taken the decision to manage his workload, seeking to avert the risk of injury associated with the increased physical demands of red-ball cricket.”
These players receive maiden call-up vs Bangladesh
Uncapped Barbados batter Kevin Wickham has earned his name on the list. The right-handed top-order batter has been given a much-deserved call-up for an outstanding 2026 West Indies Championship campaign, in which he scored three consecutive centuries for Barbados. He registered 105, a career-best 153 and an unbeaten 108 across successive innings, finishing as the third-highest run-scorer in the competition with 393 runs at an average of 78.60.
Wickham’s form has been exceptional and is worth the hype and his selection ahead of the Tests against Bangladesh. Ahead of this season, he had three first-class centuries; the recent sequence of three in a row underlined his readiness for higher honours. Across his first-class career, he now has six centuries from around 25 matches at an average exceeding 40.
Selectors have looked at the Bangladesh series as an ideal opportunity to blood emerging talent while the side is free of final contention pressure. All-rounder Keemo Paul comes in as his replacement. In addition to these, opening batter John Campbell returns to the Test side after recovering from a hamstring injury that forced him to miss the recent home series against Pakistan.
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A look at West Indies Test squad vs Bangladesh
Talking about the squad, it will be captained by Roston Chase, with left-arm spinner Jomel Warrican as vice-captain. Other players included in the squad are Joshua Bishop, Tagenarine Chanderpaul, Joshua Da Silva, Justin Greaves, Kavem Hodge, Amir Jangoo, Shamar Joseph, Brandon King, Kemar Roach, Jayden Seales and the newly included Wickham.
West Indies currently sit eighth in the World Test Championship standings with a points percentage of 20.83 after 12 matches with two wins and eight losses. Although they cannot reach the final, the Caribbean side will look to end the cycle on a positive note, improve their ranking and give younger players experience in challenging conditions. Bangladesh, placed fourth with a stronger points percentage, will enjoy home advantage and will be keen to strengthen their own position. Head coach Daren Sammy said in a CWI statement:
"At the start of this World Test Championship cycle we set ourselves goals, and one of them was to finish in the top half of the rankings.”
Sammy added:
"Winning this series would move us closer to it. Playing Bangladesh in their own conditions will be challenging, and we're ready for that.”
West Indies squad for Bangladesh Tests
Roston Chase (capt), Jomel Warrican (vice-capt), Joshua Bishop, John Campbell, Tagenarine Chanderpaul, Joshua Da Silva (wk), Justin Greaves, Kavem Hodge, Amir Jangoo (wk), Shamar Joseph, Brandon King, Keemo Paul, Kemar Roach, Jayden Seales, Kevin Wickham
The full squad is due to arrive in Bangladesh on 18 October and will play a three-day warm-up match in Dhaka from 22 to 24 October before the first Test. The full squad is due to arrive in Bangladesh on 18 October and will play a three-day warm-up match in Dhaka from 22 to 24 October before the first Test. Meanwhile, West Indies is set to face India today in the fourth of five-match T20 series in Hyderabad. Ahead of this, the hosts won the ODI series 2-1.
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