Hosein, Goolie absent from T20 squad due to visa issues

ST JOHN’S, Antigua:

The West Indies were without the services of the number two-ranked T20 bowler in the world, Akeal Hosein for their first T20I against England yesterday in Durham, after he failed to meet the UK visa requirements.

In a press release issued yesterday, hours before the opening T20I was set to bowl off, Cricket West Indies (CWI) revealed that both Hosein and Jyd Goolie failed to secure the necessary documentation following updated UK visa entry requirements for Trinidad and Tobago citizens, which came into effect on April 23 and May 12, 2025.

The changes required both players to submit visa applications and attend mandatory in-person appointments.

CWI said they had made formal efforts to expedite the visa process for Hosein, who they hoped would be able join the team “in the coming days”.

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Unfortunately, the 28-year-old Goolie, who is yet to play for the West Indies, was unable to secure the required visa waiver.

Due to Goolie’s unavailability, Roston Chase, who was set to leave the UK to join the Test camp in Barbados, will now stay for the entire T20 series.

CWI’s Director of Cricket, Miles Bascombe in explaining the situation, said they had done everything possible to secure the necessary documents for Hosein and Goolie.

“As soon as the updated visa requirements were announced, CWI began the necessary application processes. This was only possible after Akeal returned to Trinidad, and following the confirmation of Jyd’s selection to the Ireland squad.

“Akeal, who was selected for both the England and Ireland legs of the tour, was granted permission to fulfill his commitments with the extended Pakistan Super League until mid-May, while Jyd was called up for the Ireland series after Roston Chase was named Test captain on May 16,” Bascombe noted.

“Chase was set to leave the UK to join the Test camp in Barbados, creating an opening in the squad. However, Jyd was unable to secure the required visa waiver, as the transition period for Trinidad and Tobago residents had already expired.”

While CWI said those processes were ultimately governed by UK immigration authorities and remain outside of CWI’s control, they remained optimistic the matter will be resolved in the coming days, allowing Hosein to join the squad for the remaining matches.

CMC

WI lose ground in rankings

DUBAI, United Arab Emirates:

Despite maintaining their ninth position in the International Cricket Council’s (ICC) One Day International (ODI) rankings, the West Indies are in danger of being overtaken by Bangladesh following their 3-0 defeat to England in the recently concluded ODI series.

West Indies entered the three-match series against the eighth-ranked England trailing by just three points, but that gap has been extended to 11 points with England now on 88 points compared to the Windies’ 77 points.

However, the regional team now holds a slender one-point lead over the 10th ranked Bangladesh (76 points).

With Bangladesh set to take on Sri Lanka in three ODIs beginning on July 2, victory in the series will see them leapfrog West Indies into ninth position.

The West Indies’ next ODI series is against Pakistan, with the first match set to bowl off on August 8 at the Brian Lara Cricket Academy in Trinidad.

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