Hayley Matthews To Lead As West Indies Name Strong Squad For T20 World Cup 2026

Hayley Matthews to lead West Indies Women [Source: AFP]West Indies Cricket has unveiled a strong 15-player West Indies squad for the upcoming 2026 ICC Women’s T20 World Cup in England. Star all-rounder Hayley Matthews will continue to lead her side, and she will be accompanied by fellow seasoned pros like Deandra Dottin, Stafanie Taylor among others. The West Indies Women’s cricket team is yet to win a T20 World Cup ever since lifting the 2016 crown way back in April 2016 in India over a decade ago. Hayley Matthews to lead West Indies’ decade-long quest On Thursday, May 28, Cricket West Indies unveiled West Indies’ 15-player squad for the upcoming 2026 ICC Women’s T20 World Cup. The team will be helmed by legendary all-rounder Hayley Matthews, who will receive much assistance from fellow senior pros Deandra Dottin and Stafanie Taylor. The aforementioned trio will also boost the all-round department of the West Indies unit.Hayley Matthews, along with top-order batter Qiana Joseph will be expected to bat early in the innings. Meanwhile, players like Dottin, Stafanie, Chinelle Henry and Jahzara Claxton will likely helm the team’s middle order. Also Read- 4 Indians In As ICC Women’s T20 World Cup 2026 Match Officials RevealedShemaine Campbelle will be expected to command the wicketkeeping gloves for her side. The West Indies selection committee has surprisingly picked a spin-heavy team, boasting of several key spin bowlers like Ashmini Munisar, Afy Fletcher, Mandy Mangru, Karishma Ramharack, Matthews and Zaida James. Among pace options, West Indies has Chinelle Henry, Aaliyah Alleyne, Jannillea Glasgow, Jahzara Claxton, Shawnisha Hector and Deandra Dottin to unleash in English conditions. Here is a look at the entire West Indies squad for the upcoming 2026 ICC Women’s T20 World Cup. West Indies Women squad for T20 World Cup 2026: Hayley Matthews (c), Chinelle Henry, Deandra Dottin, Stafanie Taylor, Afy Fletcher, Aaliyah Alleyne, Shemaine Campbelle, Ashmini Munisar, Karishma Ramharack, Jannillea Glasgow, Jahzara Claxton, Qiana Joseph, Zaida James, Mandy Mangru and Shawnisha Hector.Windies Cricket @windiescricket 🚨SQUAD REVEAL!👀 The Men in Maroon are backing the Maroon Warriors as they prepare to carry our passion, energy and West Indian spirit to the ICC Women's T20 World Cup in England and Wales.🏆🙌🏽 #MaroonWarriors | #T20WorldCup May 28, 2026, 8:03 PM West Indies to face New Zealand in their opening game The West Indies Women cricket team, under the leadership of Hayley Matthews, is placed in Group B of the 2026 ICC T20 World Cup alongside Ireland, New Zealand, Scotland, Sri Lanka and hosts England. As per the schedule unveiled by the ICC a couple of months ago, the West Indies team will be taking on New Zealand in their opening match of the tournament on June 13. The match will be hosted by the Rose Bowl in Southampton. West Indies aiming to replicate 2016 history The last instance of a West Indies Women’s team winning a T20 World Cup occurred way back in mid-2016 in India. Stafanie Taylor, who is included in the current squad, bagged the ‘Player of the Tournament’ award for scoring 246 runs and picking up eight wickets in the process. Since then, the West Indies team has always fallen short in multi-nation ICC events. Even during the previous edition of the tournament in 2024 in the UAE, West Indies lost to eventual winners New Zealand in the second semifinal.Also Read- IND-W vs ENG-W Live Streaming, Live Telecast-1st T20I, Where To Watch India Tour Of England 2026?