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Alzarri Joseph withdrawn, Shai Hope rested for West Indies' two-Test series in Bangladesh

West Indies have made key adjustments to their squad ahead of their upcoming two-Test series against Bangladesh, beginning October 28 in Dhaka. Fast bowler Alzarri Joseph has been withdrawn due to medical concerns, with Cricket West Indies citing the need to manage his workload and prevent injury risks tied to the physical demands of Test cricket.

In his place, allrounder Keemo Paul has been named to the 15-member squad, while 23-year-old batter Kevin Wickham earns his maiden Test call-up. The decision follows Joseph’s absence from the recent Pakistan series, where he was initially deemed unavailable for personal reasons before later disputing the team’s public explanation for his exclusion.

Meanwhile, white-ball captain Shai Hope has been rested to prioritize his recovery and prepare for the ODI World Cup qualifiers in 2027, marking a strategic break after an extended period across all formats. Opening batter John Campbell also returns to the Test squad after recovering from a hamstring injury that sidelined him during the Pakistan series, with Kirk McKenzie stepping aside after not featuring in that match.

The team will arrive in Bangladesh on October 18 for a three-day warm-up match in Dhaka ahead of the series kickoff.

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