West Indies Women pick Matthews-led squad for 2026 ICC T20 World Cup

ST JOHN’S, Antigua (CMC): Cricket West Indies has named its 15-member party for the 2026 ICC Women’s T20 World Cup, which will be staged in England and Wales from June 5 to July 5.

Hayley Matthews has been appointed captain, while Chinelle Henry will be her deputy.

The selected group includes established players Deandra Dottin and Stafanie Taylor, as well as newer faces Jahzara Claxton and Shawnisha Hector. The panel has also included players suited to varied roles, from big-hitting batting options to spin bowlers and seamers able to adjust to different match situations.

Selectors arrived at the squad after months of study, with emphasis placed on cricketers who can keep scoring rates high, respond well to seam and spin, and cope with the pressure likely to come in changing weather and surface conditions in England and Wales.

Head coach Shane Deitz said the team’s approach has been shaped by what the staff believes will be required in the tournament.

“We know that in these conditions, strong powerplay batting and sustained scoring through the middle overs will be critical to winning games,” Deitz said. “Our analysis showed that when we score positively in the powerplay, particularly getting beyond that 45-run mark, we give ourselves a much stronger opportunity to control matches. With the ball, we need to restrict boundaries in the powerplay and throughout the innings.”

Deitz also pointed to the value of options in the opening positions, batting strength further down the order, and bowlers who are comfortable moving between attacking and containing roles.

Ahead of the World Cup, the West Indies Women will continue their build-up with a training camp in Wales. They will then play in the Evara Women’s International Tri-series in Ireland from May 28 to June 3 against Ireland and Pakistan.

The tri-series games are scheduled to be shown live on ICC TV at 11 AM AST and 10 AM Jamaica time.

After that assignment, the squad will head back to England for two official practice matches. West Indies will meet India on June 8 and Australia on June 10, before starting their group campaign against New Zealand on June 13.

Miles Bascombe, Cricket West Indies’ Director of Cricket, said the preparation programme was put together with care.

“We have been very deliberate in how we structured the team’s preparation for this tournament,” Bascombe said. “The camp in Wales was designed to immerse the players in conditions similar to what they will experience throughout the World Cup. The tri-nation series in Ireland is another critical component as it gives the squad valuable competitive match exposure against quality international opposition immediately before the tournament.”

West Indies Women’s squad for the Tri-Nation Series and ICC World Cup: Hayley Matthews (Captain), Chinelle Henry (Vice-Captain), Aaliyah Alleyne, Shemaine Campbelle, Jahzara Claxton, Deandra Dottin, Afy Fletcher, Jannillea Glasgow, Shawnisha Hector, Zaida James, Qiana Joseph, Mandy Mangru, Ashmini Munisar, Karishma Ramharack, Stafanie Taylor.

Evara Women’s International Tri-series, Castle Avenue, Dublin: May 28, Ireland vs West Indies; May 29, Pakistan vs West Indies; May 31, Ireland vs Pakistan; June 1, Ireland vs West Indies; June 3, Pakistan vs West Indies; June 4, Ireland vs Pakistan.