West Indies announce strong squad for Pakistan Test series

ANTIGUA - Cricket West Indies (CWI) has announced a 15-member squad for the upcoming two-match ICC World Test Championship (WTC) 2025-27 series against Pakistan, retaining the nucleus of the side that recently defeated Sri Lanka while rewarding left-arm spinner Joshua Bishop with his maiden Test call-up.

The series will begin on July 25 at the Brian Lara Cricket Academy in Tarouba, Trinidad, before moving to the historic Queen’s Park Oval in Port of Spain for the second Test from August 2 to 6. Captain Roston Chase will continue to lead the Caribbean side after guiding them to a 1-0 Test series triumph over Sri Lanka earlier this month. However, the hosts will be without frontline fast bowler Alzarri Joseph, who has made himself unavailable due to personal reasons. Bishop’s inclusion comes after an outstanding run in domestic cricket. The 25-year-old left-arm orthodox spinner has been the most prolific bowler in regional first-class cricket over the past three West Indies Championship seasons, claiming 91 wickets for Barbados Pride and the West Indies Academy. His consistent performances earned him a long-awaited opportunity at the highest level. The selectors have also recalled top-order batter Kirk McKenzie, who returns to the Test squad for the first time since touring England in 2024. McKenzie replaces John Campbell, who was ruled out after sustaining a hamstring injury during the recent ODI series against New Zealand.

McKenzie forced his way back into contention with an impressive domestic campaign, amassing 323 runs in six innings at an average of 64.60, reaffirming his credentials as one of the region’s most promising batters. The squad also features experienced campaigners Shai Hope, Kemar Roach, Jayden Seales, Jomel Warrican, Shamar Joseph and Joshua Da Silva, providing a balanced blend of youth and experience. The two-Test contest carries valuable ICC World Test Championship points, with both Pakistan and West Indies eager to strengthen their positions early in the 2025-27 WTC cycle.

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