In a surprising move, England have named 22-year-old leg-spinner Jafer Chohan in their squad for the upcoming white-ball series against the West Indies. Chohan, who has yet to make his List A or Hundred debut, has been called up alongside Jos Buttler, who returns as captain after an injury layoff. This marks Chohan’s first inclusion in an England squad, despite his relative lack of top-tier experience.
Jos Buttler leads fresh squad
Jos Buttler, England’s white-ball captain, returns to lead a 14-man squad against the West Indies. The series will feature three ODIs and five T20Is, starting on 31 October.
England’s squad sees the inclusion of three uncapped players: Jafer Chohan, John Turner, and Dan Mousley. While Mousley and Turner have been part of previous squads, neither has made their international debut, and Chohan’s selection has raised the most eyebrows due to his limited exposure to high-profile cricket.
Jafer Chohan: Rising star with limited exposure
Jafer Chohan, who is yet to appear in a List A match or the Hundred, signed his first professional contract with Yorkshire just last year. Despite not having played any matches in England’s premier domestic competitions, Chohan has made a name for himself in practice sessions.
He caught the selectors’ attention as a net bowler when he dismissed top England players Joe Root and Ben Duckett during their preparations for the 2022 tour to Pakistan. Although he has played 23 T20Is for England, his lack of exposure in List A cricket or the Hundred makes his selection particularly intriguing.
Jafer Chohan is also the first graduate from the South Asian Cricket Academy (SACA) to be called up to England’s senior squad, a significant milestone for the academy.
Injury-Hit summer limits Jafer Chohan appearances
This summer, Jafer Chohan was plagued by injuries, limiting his participation to the T20 Blast. Even before his injury, he was not named in any Hundred squad, leaving many to wonder how much top-tier experience he would bring to the table.
Despite this, the England selectors have shown faith in his potential as they prepare for the West Indies series.
Shortened England squad
With several of England’s multi-format players tied up in the ongoing Test series against Pakistan, the white-ball squad is somewhat depleted. However, two players from the Test squad will join the group after the third Test in Rawalpindi, increasing the total squad size to 16.
It is expected that players who are heavily involved in the Rawalpindi Test are unlikely to join the white-ball squad for the West Indies.
England’s upcoming Caribbean challenge
England will face the West Indies in a series of three ODIs and five T20Is, with the first two ODIs set to take place in Antigua, followed by a third ODI and the first two T20Is in Barbados. The remaining three T20Is will be played in St Lucia.
With players like Harry Brook, Ben Stokes, and Joe Root unlikely to join due to the upcoming Test series against New Zealand, the squad will have to rely on newer faces and returning players like Buttler and Adil Rashid to lead the charge.
England’s White-Ball Squad for West Indies
England’s squad for the series includes some well-known names alongside fresh talent: Jos Buttler (captain), Jofra Archer, Jacob Bethell, Jafer Chohan, Sam Curran, Will Jacks, Liam Livingstone, Saqib Mahmood, Dan Mousley, Jamie Overton, Adil Rashid, Phil Salt, Reece Topley, and John Turner.
With the inclusion of players like Jafer Chohan, England’s selectors are clearly thinking long-term. The series against the West Indies will offer a valuable opportunity for emerging players to make their mark on the international stage.
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