As the deadline to announce the ICC T20 WC 2022 squad is nearing, we are seeing different nations disclosing their secret weapons. West Indies on Wednesday announced their 15-member squad which has some surprises.

Cricket The West Indies declared their squad for the 2022 International Cricket Council (ICC) Men’s T20 World Cup, which will be held in October and November of this year in Australia.

Nicholas Pooran captains the West Indies in his first World Cup, with Rovman Powell serving as vice-captain. Evin Lewis, the left-handed opening batsman, has been returned for the first time since the ICC T20 WC in 2021.

Yannic Cariah, right-arm leg-spinner allrounder, and Raymon Reifer, left-arm batting allrounder, have been named as uncapped players.

Johnson Charles, who last played a T20I in 2016, is a surprise inclusion in the team. Cariah, who just made his ODI debut, was chosen over Hayden Walsh as the squad’s leg-spinner. Andre Russell and Fabian Allen, who both participated in the 2021 ICC Men’s T20 World Cup in the UAE, are not included in the squad.

CWI Lead Selector Desmond Haynes said, “We have selected a mixture of youth and experience to represent the West Indies. In the selection process, we have been cognizant of the ongoing CPL and we have been looking at the players who have been playing very well.

“I said at the beginning of my tenure that I would be interested in giving players the opportunity and I think I have been consistent in doing that. I believe it is a very good team we have selected, and it is a team that will compete, given that we have to qualify from Round 1 into the Super12s.”

“There are players who did not make the team and I hope they will continue to work hard and perform to their best in the CPL and the upcoming CG United Super50 Cup; because you never know what can happen in case of injuries or any other unforeseen situations where we might need to call up players as replacements.”

The West Indies are the only side to have won the ICC T20 WC twice, in 2012 in Sri Lanka and in 2016 in India. The team’s quest for a record third ICC Men’s T20 World Cup championship begins on October 17, when they face Scotland in the first of three Group B matches at Hobart’s Bellerive Oval. The West Indies then face Zimbabwe on October 19. The top two teams in Group B will advance to the Super 12s.

The West Indies will also face Australia in a two-match bilateral T20I series on October 5 and 7, prior of the ICC T20 WC 2022.