West Indies have named a balanced and experienced 15-member squad for the ICC Women’s T20 World Cup 2026, with captain Hayley Matthews leading a side built around all-round depth, aggressive batting and tactical flexibility as they attempt to recreate their famous 2016 triumph. A decade after West Indies stunned Australia to win their maiden Women’s T20 World Cup title at Eden Gardens, the Caribbean side returns to the global stage carrying renewed belief and a squad specifically assembled for the demands of English conditions.
West Indies Squad for the ICC Women’s T20 World Cup:
Hayley Matthews (C), Chinelle Henry, Deandra Dottin, Stafanie Taylor, Afy Fletcher, Aaliyah Alleyne, Shemaine Campbelle, Ashmini Munisar, Karishma Ramharack, Jannillea Glasgow, Jahzara Claxton, Qiana Joseph, Zaida James, Mandy Mangru, Shawnisha Hector
Matthews headlines a strong core of senior players alongside Deandra Dottin and Stafanie Taylor, whose experience across multiple World Cups is expected to anchor the side both on and off the field. The squad also reflects a deliberate shift towards versatility, with several players capable of contributing in multiple roles. Opening responsibilities are likely to fall on Matthews and Qiana Joseph, while Dottin, Taylor, Chinelle Henry and Jahzara Claxton provide explosive middle-order options capable of accelerating through the middle overs.
One of the defining strengths of the squad is the number of genuine all-rounders available to the side. Matthews, Dottin, Taylor, Henry, Claxton and Zaida James all offer balance with both bat and ball, giving West Indies the flexibility to adjust combinations depending on opposition and conditions.
Head coach Shane Deitz said the squad was selected after extensive analysis of how teams succeed in English conditions, particularly during the powerplay and middle overs. “We know that in these conditions, strong powerplay batting and sustained scoring through the middle overs will be critical to winning games. 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. Alternatively with the ball, we need to restrict boundaries in the power play and throughout the innings,” Deitz said.
West Indies have placed major emphasis on maintaining attacking intent regardless of match situations, while also building enough batting depth to continue scoring aggressively late into innings.“We’ve therefore selected a group with flexibility at the top of the order, players who can handle both pace and spin effectively, and importantly, batters capable of maintaining intent regardless of wickets lost, along with ensuring depth in the batting so we can continue attacking deep into the innings. We also wanted bowlers who can attack when necessary but also quickly shift into defensive modes and execute under pressure at every stage of the innings,” Deitz added.
Preparation for the tournament has included a specialised conditioning camp in Wales designed to help players acclimatise early to English conditions. The squad is also participating in a tri-series in Ireland involving Pakistan and hosts Ireland before returning to England for warm-up fixtures against India and Australia.
Director of Cricket Miles Bascombe said every stage of the preparation had been carefully structured to ensure the squad enters the tournament fully adjusted to the conditions and mentally prepared for a long campaign. “We have been very deliberate in how we structured the team’s preparation for this tournament. The camp in Wales was designed to immerse the players in conditions similar to what they will experience throughout the World Cup, allowing them to fine-tune both their technical execution and tactical awareness in that environment,” Bascombe said.
West Indies begin their Women’s T20 World Cup campaign against New Zealand in Southampton on June 13 before facing Scotland, Sri Lanka, England and Ireland in Group B.
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