“How can you leave them and go to WC?” - Ravi Ashwin disappointed with two missing players in T20 WC 2026

Former Indian spinner and analyst Ravi Ashwin has expressed his disappointment with Nicholas Pooran and Sunil Narine not being part of the West Indies side in the ICC T20 World Cup 2026 campaign, scheduled to start on Saturday, February 7, in India and Sri Lanka.

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Notably, Narine bid adieu to all forms of international cricket in 2023. On the other hand, the explosive keeper-batter Pooran quit the international formats back in 2025. However, the duo has been quite active in franchise leagues since then.

Speaking exclusively on his YouTube channel, Ravi Ashwin admitted that he is a big fan of the West Indies Cricket and believes the board needs to reassess its planning for ICC mega events in the future. 

"I am very disappointed that the West Indies did not pick Nicholas Pooran and Sunil Narine in their squad for this World Cup. You need to sit across the table from them, talk to them, and bring them to the World Cup. How can you leave Nicholas Pooran and Sunil Narine out and go into a World Cup without them?" Ashwin said on his YouTube channel.

"I am a big fan of the West Indies. They have a lot of ability. But the way they plan and sometimes even the infrastructure in the West Indies leaves me with my mouth open. I think West Indies cricket has a high ceiling and huge potential, but they really need to re-look at the way they approach and plan for World Cups," he added.

Since the ICC T20 World Cup 2024 competition, the West Indies have won just 14 of 43 matches, losing 27, with two encounters ending in no result. They are placed in Group C alongside England, Nepal, Scotland, and Italy.

West Indies squad for ICC T20 World Cup 2026: Shai Hope (c), Shimron Hetmyer, Johnson Charles, Roston Chase, Matthew Forde, Jason Holder, Akeal Hosein, Shamar Joseph, Brandon King, Gudakesh Motie, Rovman Powell, Sherfane Rutherford, Quentin Sampson, Jayden Seales, Romario Shepherd.

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