The West Indies’ fast bowling duo of Alzarri Joseph and Shamar Joseph are expected to recover in time to participate in the 2026 edition of the ICC Men’s T20 World Cup.
According to head coach Daren Sammy, who said that while both pacers have been ruled out of action for the rest of the year, he was confident that they would be available in time to participate in the marquee event, which is being co-hosted by Sri Lanka and India from Feb. 7 to March 8.
Alzarri was ruled out of the Test series against India with a back injury. Shamar also missed the Test series and was incapacitated from the Bangladesh tour due to a shoulder injury.
Speaking during a virtual press conference hosted by Cricket West Indies (CWI) last month, Sammy expressed hope that both players would return when the West Indies face Afghanistan and South Africa in a warm-up series before the start of the World Cup.
“Alzarri is doing his rehab in Antigua. Both of them saw a specialist; Shamar, on his way from Bangladesh, stopped in England to see a shoulder specialist and from the reports I’m seeing from the medical team, he was supposed to just rest the shoulder for a bit.”
“I think whatever procedure that was done, he was just supposed to not do anything strenuous, let the shoulder heal, and I think probably next week, or so he will start his physical rehab,” Sammy said.
“We know we won’t see them in any cricket for the rest of the year, but our Future Tours programme; we have Afghanistan in January, and we have South Africa right before the World Cup, so we’re pushing for these two guys to be available for selection going into the World Cup.
“The rehab is coming along nicely, and I really hope that when we select the World Cup squad, they will be in contention and in a position to be selected,” he added.
