Alick Athanaze and Keacy Carty have been named captains of the West Indies A teams for the upcoming T20 and one-day series against England Lions in St Kitts and Nevis. The tour will begin with three T20 matches, followed by five one-day games, as the selectors look to assess emerging talent ahead of major international assignments. The T20 squad comprises 13 players, while the one-day squad features 15 members, with preparations for the ICC Men's Cricket World Cup Qualifier in February a key priority.
Cricket West Indies (CWI) said the five one-day matches would provide players outside the senior team with a crucial opportunity to press their claims for selection in the World Cup Qualifier squad. The West Indies have already qualified for the 2028 ICC Men's T20 World Cup after reaching the Super Eight stage of the 2026 tournament, making the T20 series an early step in identifying players and defining roles for the next edition.
CWI director of cricket Miles Bascombe stressed the importance of the upcoming matches, particularly with the World Cup Qualifier serving as the priority for the West Indies' 50-over campaign. He said the team's objective was to win the qualifier and carry that momentum into the 2027 World Cup. West Indies A head coach Ottis Gibson has been tasked with clarifying players' roles, assessing their readiness for international cricket and identifying areas for improvement.
West Indies A T20 squad
Alick Athanaze (captain), Jewel Andrew, Zachary Carter, Shadrack Descarte, Keon Gaston, Karima Gore, Joshua James, Vitel Lawes, Zishan Motara, Jakeem Pollard, Kamil Pooran, Quentin Sampson, Stewart Thompson.
West Indies A one-day squad
Keacy Carty (captain), Kevlon Anderson, Jewel Andrew, Alick Athanaze, Jediah Blades, Rivaldo Clarke, Shadrack Descarte, Jyd Goolie, Vitel Lawes, Kirk McKenzie, Micah McKenzie, Shaqkere Parris, Jakeem Pollard, Shamar Springer, Oshane Thomas.