West Indies name squad for T20I series against South Africa; Brandon King to lead as IPL players remain absent 

Cricket West Indies has named a 15-player squad for the three-match home T20I series against South Africa, scheduled to begin on Thursday, May 23. Top-order batter Brandon King will lead the side, with several senior members rested from the proceedings.

With a second-string squad being named, the likes of Andre Russell, Shimron Hetmyer, Rovman Powell, Sherfane Rutherford, and Alzarri Joseph can continue to represent their IPL franchises in the ongoing 2024 edition playoffs. Apart from the pair, the individuals not involved in the IPL knockout stage like Nicholas Pooran, Shai Hope, and Rovman Powell are also absent from the squad.

Some members of the team are also part of the 2024 T20 World Cup squad, like Roston Chase, Johnson Charles, Jason Holder, Akeal Hosein, Shamar Joseph, Gudakesh Motie, and Romario Shepherd. With some high-profile names missing, it allows the players who missed out on the World Cup squad, like Kyle Mayers and Hayden Walsh Jr.

"Alzarri Joseph and Sherfane Rutherford will be added to the squad if their respective franchises don’t reach the Indian Premier League (IPL) Final. Shai Hope and Nicholas Pooran are both rested for the series and will join the squad in Trinidad on Monday, 27 May," Cricket West Indies mentioned in a statement.

West Indies head coach Darren Sammy said of the squad:

“We have not played together as a team since the Australia series, but we just completed a very high-intensity training camp in Antigua. Now we have the chance to integrate some of our players returning from the IPL and build some momentum as a group going into the World Cup."

The Windies have been in good touch in the shortest format of late. They defeated India and England at home, while also putting up a spirited display against Australia away from home. As co-hosts of the upcoming 2024 T20 World Cup, they have been drawn alongside New Zealand, Afghanistan, Papua New Guinea, and Uganda in Group C.

West Indies squad for T20I series against South Africa: Brandon King (c), Roston Chase, Fabian Allen, Alick Athanaze, Johnson Charles, Andre Fletcher, Matthew Forde, Jason Holder, Akeal Hosein, Shamar Joseph, Kyle Mayers, Obed McCoy, Gudakesh Motie, Romario Shepherd, Hayden Walsh Jr.

Jamaica to play host to all three T20Is between West Indies and South Africa

The Sabina Park in Jamaica will host all three matches of the series between West Indies and South Africa. Much like the Windies, the Proteas also named a squad without some of their star players. Rassie van der Dussen will lead the side as the likes of David Miller, Kagiso Rabada, and Tristan Stubbs missed out.

Furthermore, the candidates involved in the IPL playoffs like Aiden Markram, Heinrich Klaasen, Keshav Maharaj, and Marco Jansen were also not included.