West Indies’ opening batter Brandon King has been ruled out of the T20 World Cup 2024 due to a side strain sustained during the Super Eight loss against England on June 19. King, who scored 23 off 12 balls before retiring hurt while attempting to hit Sam Curran, did not field in the match, with Shimron Hetmyer substituting for him.
Left-hand opening batter Kyle Mayers has been named as King’s replacement for the remainder of the tournament and is expected to join the squad on Saturday. The ICC’s Event Technical Committee approved Mayers as King’s replacement.
King’s injury is a significant blow to the West Indies team. Since 2023, he has been the leading T20I run-scorer, amassing 651 runs in 23 innings, including four fifties. He was also the top scorer in West Indies’ 3-0 T20I series sweep over South Africa before the tournament. However, in the current T20 World Cup, King managed just 86 runs in five innings, with a highest score of 34.
Mayers, who had a strong 2024 season, scoring 367 runs in 11 T20 matches at a strike rate of 155.50 and taking nine wickets with his medium pace, is set to bring a fresh dynamic to the team.
The West Indies, who won all four group stage matches, lost their first Super Eight game against England. After facing the USA in Barbados, they will play South Africa in North Sound, Antigua. The inclusion of Mayers is hoped to boost the team’s chances in the tournament, as their performance in the Super Eight stage is crucial for advancing to the semi-finals. The West Indies squad aims to recover from their loss and improve their standings in the upcoming matches.
Also, see:
Will India visit Pakistan for 2025 Champions Trophy?
