Kevin Wickham has earned his maiden Test call-up, as Cricket West Indies (CWI) named a 15-member squad for the two-Test series against Bangladesh, which will bring the regional side’s 2025–2027 ICC World Test Championship cycle to a close.
The 23-year-old middle-order batter has been rewarded for an impressive 2026 West Indies Championship campaign, during which he scored three consecutive centuries, including a career-best 153.
Wickham has now scored six centuries in 25 first-class matches at an average of more than 40.
The two Tests are scheduled to begin on October 28 in Mirpur and November 5 in Sylhet, Bangladesh, with the West Indies seeking a series victory that could lift them to sixth in the ICC Test rankings. The regional side finished the previous World Test Championship cycle in eighth place.
Head coach Daren Sammy said the team was determined to achieve its objectives for the current cycle.
“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. Winning this series would move us closer to it,” Sammy said.
“Playing Bangladesh in their own conditions will be challenging, and we’re ready for that.”
White-ball captain Shai Hope will be rested for the series following an extended run across all three formats. CWI said the decision was part of its workload management strategy ahead of next February’s ICC Cricket World Cup Qualifier.
Fast bowler Alzarri Joseph has also been withdrawn following a routine medical assessment and consultation with specialists.
CWI said the decision, taken with Joseph’s agreement, was intended to manage his workload and reduce the risk of injury associated with the physical demands of red-ball cricket.
The medical team noted that bowling repeated high-intensity spells across two consecutive Test matches presented a greater workload and injury risk than shorter white-ball formats.
Joseph will continue working with the CWI medical team and specialists as he prepares for a return to Test cricket.
All-rounder Keemo Paul has been called up as Joseph’s replacement.
Meanwhile, opener John Campbell has demonstrated his return to fitness after the hamstring injury that ruled him out of the recent Test series against Pakistan in the Caribbean.
The remainder of the squad is unchanged from the group that beat Sri Lanka and drew with Pakistan during the summer.
The West Indies will travel to Bangladesh with three specialist fast-bowling options, two seam-bowling all-rounders and two specialist spinners, providing flexibility for the conditions expected in the subcontinent.
Squad members not involved in the ongoing T20 International series in India have begun preparations at the Super Kings Academy in Chennai under assistant coach Floyd Reifer. Amir Jangoo joined the group after the first T20 International in Lucknow.
The full squad is scheduled to arrive in Bangladesh on October 18 before playing a three-day warm-up match in Dhaka from October 22–24.
The series will provide the West Indies with a final opportunity to improve their standing in the current World Test Championship cycle, with a series win potentially lifting the team to sixth in the ICC Test rankings.
WEST INDIES TEST SQUAD VS BANGLADESH
Roston Chase (Captain)
Jomel Warrican (Vice-Captain)
Joshua Bishop
John Campbell
Tagenarine Chanderpaul
Joshua Da Silva
Justin Greaves
Kavem Hodge
Amir Jangoo
Shamar Joseph
Brandon King
Keemo Paul
Kemar Roach
Jayden Seales
Kevin Wickham
TEAM MANAGEMENT UNIT (TMU):
Head Coach: Daren Sammy
Manager: Rawl Lewis
Assistant Coach (Batting): Floyd Reifer
Assistant Coach (Bowling): Ravi Rampaul
Assistant Coach (Fielding): Rayon Griffith
Physiotherapist: Dr Denis Byam
Strength & Conditioning Coach: Darc Browne
Massage Therapist: Dane Currency
Performance Analyst: Avenesh Seetaram
Content & Media Officer: Jerome Foster
FULL TOUR SCHEDULE:
• Warm-up match (3 days): October 22–24, Dhaka, Bangladesh
• 1st Test: October 28 – November 1, Sher-e-Bangla National Cricket Stadium, Mirpur, Dhaka. 12am AST
• 2nd Test: November 5–9, Sylhet International Cricket Stadium, Sylhet. 12am AST
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