NEW DELHI,9 June (H.S.):

Cricket West Indies has announced its squad for the upcoming three-match T20 International series against Sri Lanka, with Akeem Auguste, Jewel Andrew and Shamar Springer earning recalls to the national side.

The squad selected for the series in Jamaica features several changes from the team that recently participated in the ICC T20 World Cup. Johnson Charles, Quinton Sampson and Jayden Seales have not been included in the squad, while fast bowler Alzarri Joseph was unavailable for selection as part of a workload management programme.

Twenty-two-year-old Akeem Auguste has represented the West Indies in nine T20 Internationals to date. Nineteen-year-old Jewel Andrew has played five matches in the format, while all-rounder Shamar Springer has made six T20I appearances for the Caribbean side.

Meanwhile, fast bowler Shamar Joseph, who returned home after leaving the ODI squad due to personal reasons, is expected to rejoin the team ahead of the T20 series.

Head coach Darren Sammy expressed confidence in the squad and emphasised the importance of maintaining the standards displayed during the recent World Cup campaign.

“This will be our first T20 series since the World Cup in India. The team showed passion, resilience and unity during that tournament, qualities that define West Indies cricket. Our objective now is to build on those performances and compete strongly against Sri Lanka,” Sammy said.

The three T20 Internationals will be played at Sabina Park in Jamaica on June 11, 13 and 14. Following the T20 series, the two teams will travel to Antigua for a two-match Test series.

Sri Lanka enters the T20 leg of the tour with momentum after securing the ODI series 1-0. The final two one-day internationals were abandoned due to rain after Sri Lanka won the opening match.

West Indies T20I Squad for the Sri Lanka Series:

Shai Hope (captain), Jewel Andrew, Akeem 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.

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Hindusthan Samachar / Jun Sarkar