West Indies Squad For Bangladesh Tests Announced; Alzarri Joseph, Shai Hope Out

Shai Hope for WI [Source: AFP]In a massive new development, two key players of the West Indies cricket team are set to miss the two-match Test series in Bangladesh. Fast bowler Alzarri Joseph and white-ball captain Shai Hope will be absent from the 15-man squad that was announced by the West Indies on Wednesday, October 14. Notably, in the squad, 23-year-old batter Kevin Wickham has earned his maiden Test call-up, while opening batter John Campbell has returned to the Test squad after recovering from the hamstring injury that had him miss the Pakistan series at home.ALSO READMost ICC Men's Player of the Month Award WinnersAlzarri, Hope out of Bangladesh Tests to manage workloadAlzarri Joseph has been withdrawn from the squad, with Cricket West Indies sharing a statement on his absence. As per the statement, Cricket West Indies has followed a routine medical assessment and specialist consultation regarding Joseph's inclusion, and the board decided to manage his workload, seeking to avoid the risk of injury that is associated with red-ball cricket. Meanwhile, Shai Hope was rested after an extended run across all three formats, as per the CWI statement. The board is managing his workload and wellness in the lead-up to the ODI World Cup qualifiers in February 2027. Roston Chase has taken the helm as the captain of the Test side.In the Test squad, all-rounder Keemo Paul has been named as Alzarri's replacement for the Tests. 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 WickhamJoseph and Hope to continue in white-ballAlzarri Jopseph, just like Shai Hope, Alzarri Joseph hasn't been ruled out of the shorter formats. Even though the West Indies are not set to play white-ball games in the next month, Joseph's prospects in white-ball cricket remain in the green, while he continues to work with the medical team to prepare for a full return in the longer format."While he is not ruled out from shorter formats, the medical team has stated that the demands of two consecutive Test matches in Bangladesh, which require fast bowlers to sustain repeated high-intensity spells over extended periods, present a significantly greater workload and injury risk than the shorter white-ball formats. Joseph will continue working with the CWI medical team and specialists in preparation for a full return to the longer format," CWI said. The first Bangladesh vs West Indies Test will begin on October 28 in Dhaka, and the second one will be played in Sylhet on November 5, 2026.ALSO READIndia vs West Indies Live Streaming, 4th T20I Live Telecast- Where to Watch IND vs WI 2026 Live On TV, OTT, App?