Opening batter Kamil Pooran of Trinidad has earned his first West Indies T20 International call-up for the upcoming series against India, as selectors look towards building the team for the 2028 T20 World Cup.
The right-hander’s selection follows a return of 273 runs from eight innings at an average of 39 and a strike rate of 159.64. Cricket West Indies said his inclusion forms part of a deliberate effort to identify and develop emerging talent.
Pooran joins a Shai Hope-led team that will face the world’s top-ranked T20I side in five matches. The tour runs from September 27 to October 18 across eight cities and also includes three One Day Internationals against India, who hold the number one ranking in that format as well.
Quentin Sampson has been selected for the T20I squad after being part of the West Indies team at the ICC T20 World Cup in India earlier this year. Experienced all-rounder Jason Holder will sit out the series after being rested.
Shimron Hetmyer will link up with the team for the T20Is, having been allowed an extended recovery period following the Caribbean Premier League. CWI said the batter remains committed to West Indies.
Hetmyer featured in the final two matches of the recent ODI series against New Zealand but will miss the ODI leg of the India tour.
For that assignment, West Indies have retained the core of the players who contested the recent home series against Sri Lanka and New Zealand, with Hope continuing as captain.
John Campbell returns after missing the last two New Zealand ODIs with a hamstring injury. Jewel Andrew has also been included as a top and middle order batting option, replacing Ackeem Auguste, who is continuing rehabilitation after surgery in August.
The ODI series comes with West Indies already facing the prospect of a qualification tournament early next year to reach the 2027 ICC Men’s 50-Over World Cup.
Although the automatic qualification cycle closes with the first two matches against India, CWI confirmed that West Indies cannot move ahead of their nearest rivals in the standings, whatever the results.
Head Coach Daren Sammy said the challenge of playing the leading ODI team would still provide valuable opportunities to improve performances and assess players.
“The series also creates a valuable platform to assess players who are stepping into important roles for this series with a long-term target of competing in the World Cup in 2027,” Sammy said.
He noted that West Indies had produced quality performances during the qualification cycle and would seek to build on those efforts against India.
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