West Indies Cricket Team. Image Credits: X
West Indies are racing against time as the countdown to the ICC T20 World Cup 2026 gathers pace. With the global showpiece set to run from February 7 to March 8 in India and Sri Lanka, the Caribbean side still has a few fitness boxes left to tick before locking in their final squad.
At the heart of the wait-and-watch game are two of their quickest weapons: Alzarri Joseph and Shamar Joseph. The clock is ticking, the deadline is looming and West Indies are hoping both pacers can beat the injury blues in time.
Alzarri Joseph and Shamar Joseph battling different injury concerns
All 20 teams must submit their final 15-member squads by January 2, leaving West Indies selectors with very little wriggle room. According to reliable inputs, the think tank has already trimmed the wider pool down to 20 players with the final calls hinging on medical updates.
Both Josephs have been out of competitive action since the Caribbean Premier League in September. Since then, it has been rehab rooms, physio sessions and crossed fingers.
Shamar Joseph has reportedly been undergoing treatment for a shoulder injury, while Alzarri Joseph has consulted specialists after being diagnosed with a stress-related lower back issue. Neither injury is minor, especially for fast bowlers who rely on rhythm, pace and repeatability.
The good news is that both are said to be working around the clock to get match-fit. The bad news? There has been no official confirmation yet on when or if they will be cleared in time.
Backup options still uncertain for West Indies
While attention is firmly on the Joseph duo, there is also silence around the fitness of left-arm seamers Jediah Blades and Ramon Simmonds. Both were part of the West Indies tour of Bangladesh in October but had to return home early due to fitness concerns.
Since then, they have missed domestic action as well, skipping Barbados’ Super50 campaign in Trinidad and the Bolivarian Games in Lima. Their availability remains a question mark.
Pace plans hanging by a thread
West Indies’ identity in T20 cricket has always leaned heavily on fast bowling firepower. Without at least one of the Josephs, the attack could lose its bite, especially on the slower surfaces expected in India and Sri Lanka.
Selectors now face a tricky balancing act: do they back proven match-winners who may not be 100 percent or do they roll the dice on fit but less experienced options?
From a neutral lens, this feels like a classic high-risk, high-reward call waiting to happen. Alzarri and Shamar Joseph are game-changers when fit, the kind who can swing matches in two overs. But T20 World Cups don’t allow half-measures.
West Indies must resist the temptation to rush their quicks back too soon. A fully fit second-string bowler might offer more value than a star name running at 70 percent. The next few medical updates could shape not just the squad but West Indies’ entire World Cup campaign.
