West Indies have shuffled their pack for the three-match T20I series against Pakistan in Lauderdale on Thursday, promoting Johnson Charles, Alick Athanaze and Shamar Joseph for the injured Brandon King and Shimron Hetmyer, and the rested Alzarri Joseph.
“We’re managing workloads while keeping an eye on form,” lead selector Desmond Haynes explained in a Cricket West Indies release. “Alzarri has bowled a lot this year, and the two lads [King and Hetmyer] simply need time to recover from their side strains.”
The changes come on the back of a 5-0 defeat to Australia, a scoreline that flattered neither West Indies’ effort nor talent. King and Hetmyer were among the few bright spots, each passing 100 runs for the series alongside captain Shai Hope before pulling up sore in the final match at Basseterre.
Charles, 36, is expected to slip straight to the top of the order. The St Lucia right-hander last played a T20I in December yet still strikes at more than 145 in the format. “Johnno’s experience and power can change a match inside three overs,” Hope noted earlier this year, and that remains the plan.
Athanaze, a left-hander from Dominica, should cover Hetmyer’s middle-order slot. Though only six T20Is old, he averages just under 30 and brings a calm approach against spin — something West Indies lacked in the Australia series.
The third newcomer, 25-year-old Shamar Joseph, offers raw pace similar to Alzarri’s. Head coach Daren Sammy said simply: “Pace unsettles good players; Shamar gives us that.” Expect him to share the new ball with Jason Holder or Romario Shepherd.
Evin Lewis stays on the injury list, while Keacy Carty retains his place after covering in Australia. No other alterations were deemed necessary, with Gudakesh Motie’s left-arm spin and Akeal Hosein’s accuracy again entrusted to tie down the middle overs.
West Indies squad: Shai Hope (capt), Jewel Andrew, Alick Athanaze, Jediah Blades, Keacy Carty, Johnson Charles, Roston Chase, Matthew Forde, Jason Holder, Akeal Hosein, Shamar Joseph, Gudakesh Motie, Sherfane Rutherford, Romario Shepherd.
Three fixtures in five days will test depth and fitness. For West Indies, success could come down to how quickly the incoming trio settle — and whether the batting order avoids the mid-innings lulls that proved costly against Australia.
