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Embattled fast bowler Alzarri Joseph will not travel to Pakistan with the West Indies team after being excluded from the squad for the two Test series at the Multan Cricket Stadium between 17 – 29 January 2024.
The Cricket West Indies (CWI) hinted that Joseph’s absence was at his own request as the player was declared “unavailable due to other engagements”.
Photo: Nicholas Bhajan/ Wired868
Joseph has courted controversy of late after two disciplinary matters on One-Day International (ODI) duty with the West Indies.
Last month, the CWI suspended Joseph for two matches after the bowler walked off the field—following a spat with captain Shai Hope—and left his teammates shorthanded for an over, during the third ODI against England in Bridgetown
On 8 December, during the first ODI against Bangladesh in Saint Kitts, Joseph’s temper got the better of him again and he was subsequently fined 25 of of his match fee and handed a demerit point for “offensive and abusive language” during an exchange with fourth umpire Gregory Brathwaite.
Regardless, Joseph returned to play in the third ODI against Bangladesh as well as in all three T20 Internationals against the south Asian visitors.
He will not travel to Pakistan, though. His namesake, Shamar Joseph, also misses out as he continues his recovery from shin splints.
Spinner Gudakesh Motie returns to the team, though, while there is a debut Test call up for left-handed batsman Amir Jangoo, who marked his maiden West Indies outing with an unbeaten century in the Third ODI against Bangladesh on 12 December.
Coley hopes for an improved showing by his charges in Pakistan.
Jangoo scored 104 not out as West Indies won by four wickets.
“For the Test series against Pakistan in January 2025, the focus is on building on what we have done well,” he said, “and transforming the learnings from 2024 into tangible results.”
The squad departs the Caribbean on 2 January and will arrive in Islamabad on 6 January.
West Indies Test Squad to Pakistan:
Kraigg Brathwaite (captain), Joshua Da Silva (vice-captain), Alick Athanaze, Keacy Carty, Justin Greaves, Kavem Hodge, Tevin Imlach, Amir Jangoo, Mikyle Louis, Gudakesh Motie, Anderson Phillip, Kemar Roach, Kevin Sinclair, Jayden Seales, and Jomel Warrican.
Team Management Unit (TMU):
Andre Coley (head coach), Rawl Lewis (manager), James Franklin (assistant coach—bowling), Rayon Griffith (assistant coach—fielding), James Adams (assistant coach—batting), Denis Byam (physiotherapist), Ronald Rogers (strength and conditioning coach), Darc Browne (massage therapist), Avenesh Seetaram (analyst), and Jerome Foster (media and content officer).
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