West Indies announce squad for Sri Lanka T20I series

ANTIGUA: West Indies have named uncapped trio Ackeem Auguste, Jewel Andrew and Shamar Springer in their squad for the upcoming three-match T20I series against Sri Lanka, which will be played in Jamaica.

The Caribbean side has made several changes to the squad that featured at the ICC Men's T20 World Cup earlier this year. Johnson Charles, Quentin Sampson and Jayden Seales have been left out, while fast bowler Alzarri Joseph was not considered as part of workload management plans.

Twenty-two-year-old Auguste has already represented West Indies in nine T20 Internationals, while 19-year-old Andrew has made five appearances in the format. All-rounder Springer, meanwhile, returns to the squad after previously playing six T20Is for the regional side.

Fast bowler Shamar Joseph, who recently departed the ODI squad to return home for personal reasons, is expected to rejoin the team ahead of the T20I series.

West Indies head coach Daren Sammy believes the series presents an important opportunity for his side to build on the positives from the T20 World Cup campaign.

"This series is an important one for us as it's our first since the World Cup in India, where the team played with passion, fight and the togetherness that West Indies cricket is built on," Sammy said.

"Our focus now is to build on those foundations, continue growing as a team and make our fans proud with the way we compete against Sri Lanka," he added.

The T20I series will be played at Sabina Park on June 11, 13 and 14, before the two teams move to Antigua for a two-match Test series. Sri Lanka head into the T20Is after securing a 1-0 victory in the ODI series, with the final two matches abandoned due to rain.

West Indies T20I squad: Shai Hope (c), Jewel Andrew, Ackeem Auguste, Roston Chase, Matthew Forde, Shimron Hetmyer, Jason Holder, Akeal Hosein, Shamar Joseph, Brandon King, Gudakesh Motie, Rovman Powell, Sherfane Rutherford, Romario Shepherd and Shamar Springer.