Alzarri Joseph, Shai Hope to miss WI's two-Test series in Bangladesh

Fast bowler Alzarri Joseph has been withdrawn and white-ball captain Shai Hope has been rested from West Indies' Test squad for the two-match series in Bangladesh starting later this month. Twenty-three-year-old top-order batter Kevin Wickham, meanwhile, has received his maiden Test call-up to the 15-man squad.

A Cricket West Indies (CWI) statement said that Joseph had been taken out of the squad "following a routine medical assessment and specialist consultation". The board decided, it said, to "manage his workload, seeking to avert the risk of injury associated with the increased physical demands of red-ball cricket", all with "Joseph's agreement".

CWI confirmed that Joseph had not been ruled out from the shorter formats, although West Indies are not scheduled to play white-ball games in the next month after the ongoing India tour.

"While he is not ruled out from shorter formats, the medical team has stated that the demands of two consecutive Test matches in Bangladesh, which require fast bowlers to sustain repeated high-intensity spells over extended periods, present a significantly greater workload and injury risk than the shorter white-ball formats," CWI said. "Joseph will continue working with the CWI medical team and specialists in preparation for a full return to the longer format."

Allrounder Keemo Paul has been named Joseph's replacement for the Tests.

Hope was rested "after an extended run across all three formats" CWI said. The board is managing his "workload and wellness" in the lead up to the ODI World Cup qualifiers in February 2027.

The two-Test series will be West Indies' last assignment for the ongoing 2025-27 World Test Championship (WTC) cycle. They currently sit eighth on the points table.

"At the start of this World Test Championship cycle we set ourselves goals, and one of them was to finish in the top half of the rankings," head coach Daren Sammy said. "Winning this series would move us closer to it. Playing Bangladesh in their own conditions will be challenging, and we're ready for that."

The first Bangladesh vs West Indies Test starts on October 28 in Dhaka and the second from November 5 in Sylhet.

West Indies squad for Bangladesh Tests

Roston Chase (capt), Jomel Warrican (vice-capt), Joshua Bishop, John Campbell, Tagenarine Chanderpaul, Joshua Da Silva (wk), Justin Greaves, Kavem Hodge, Amir Jangoo (wk), Shamar Joseph, Brandon King, Keemo Paul, Kemar Roach, Jayden Seales, Kevin Wickham