ST JOHN’S, Antigua and Barbuda — Kevin Wickham has earned his maiden Test call-up after being named in the West Indies’ 15-member squad for the two-Test series against Bangladesh later this month.

The 23-year-old middle-order batter gets his first opportunity at senior Test level following an impressive showing in the 2026 West Indies Championship, where he scored three consecutive centuries, including a career-best 153.

Wickham has now scored six first-class centuries in 25 matches, averaging more than 40, and will join a squad seeking to finish the 2025–2027 International Cricket Council (ICC) World Test Championship cycle on a strong note.

The series begins on October 28 at the Sher-e-Bangla National Cricket Stadium in Mirpur, Dhaka, with the second Test scheduled for November 5 in Sylhet.

West Indies head coach Daren Sammy said the team would be looking to build on its progress during the current championship 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.”

A series victory could lift the West Indies to sixth in the ICC Test rankings at the end of the cycle. The team finished the 2023–2025 cycle in eighth place.

Joseph withdrawn, Paul recalled

Fast bowler Alzarri Joseph has been withdrawn from the squad following a routine medical assessment and consultation with specialists.

Cricket West Indies (CWI) said the decision was taken with Joseph’s agreement to manage his workload and reduce the risk of injury associated with the physical demands of Test cricket.

The medical team noted that consecutive Test matches require fast bowlers to sustain repeated high-intensity spells over extended periods, creating a greater workload than shorter white-ball formats.

Joseph will continue working with the CWI medical team and specialists as he prepares for a return to the longer format.

All-rounder Keemo Paul has been called up as his replacement.

Meanwhile, 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 and wellness management ahead of the ICC Cricket World Cup Qualifier scheduled for February next year.

Opener John Campbell has also demonstrated his return to fitness after the hamstring injury that ruled him out of the West Indies’ recent home series against Pakistan.

The remainder of the squad is unchanged from the group that defeated Sri Lanka and drew with Pakistan during the summer.

The squad will have three specialist fast bowlers, two seam-bowling all-rounders and two specialist spinners available as the team prepares to face Bangladesh on home soil.

Players not involved in the West Indies’ ongoing T20 International series in India have begun preparations at the Super Kings Academy in Chennai under assistant coach Floyd Reifer. Batter Amir Jangoo joined the group after the first T20I 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 to 24.

West Indies Test squad for 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

Full tour schedule
• Warm-up match: October 22–24, Dhaka
• First Test: October 28–November 1, Sher-e-Bangla National Cricket Stadium, Mirpur, Dhaka
• Second Test: November 5–9, Sylhet International Cricket Stadium, Sylhet