Confirmed! When Will Shimron Hetmyer Join West Indies Squad for T20 World Cup 2026?

The troubles do not seem to get over soon for West Indies' star batter Shimron Hetmyer. The Caribbean side is set to play to their opening game of the tournament against Scotland on Saturday, February 7.

All the players from the West Indies team have arrived in Kolkata for their first game and also played the warm-up game as well, except one player, Shimron Hetmyer, who is still stuck in South Africa due to unresolved visa issues.

When will Shimron Hetmyer Join West Indies Squad for T20 World Cup 2026?

Just like the T20 World Cup 2022, when Hetmyer couldn't make it to Australia for the tournament after missing the squad flight, the batter is once again in question to miss out on another T20 World Cup for the same reasons.

The left-hander, who is one of the most dangerous batsmen in the world, was supposed to join the squad on Thursday, two days before the team's first match, but the delay in resolving his visa issues has again raised concerns.

Meanwhile, a statement has been given by the Cricket West Indies, stating, “the matter will be dealt with soon.”

For the unversed, the West Indies lost their only warm-up game, which was against Afghanistan, by 23 runs. The absence of Hetmyer was felt in the match, and it's now a frustrating thing for the camp regarding his delay in joining the squad.

Shimron Hetmyer T20 World Cup presence will boost West Indies if he appears in time for their first match against Scotland. The left-handed middle order batter has been playing international cricket for a long time now but isn't a regular part of the squad. But this tournament holds a lot of importance in his international career.

Will West Indies Miss Shimron Hetmyer?

Shimron Hetmyer is one of the most experienced players when it comes to the shortest format of the game. The star batter hasn't just represented the team in 75 T20I matches but has also played a lot of cricket all around the world by participating in some of the biggest cricket leagues in the world.

Most importantly, Hetmyer has played 86 matches in the Indian Premier League, scoring 1,483 runs at an impressive strike rate of 151.95, which clearly indicates how much experience he holds while playing on the Indian pitches. As the tournament is being co-hosted by Sri Lanka and India, it's crucial for the Caribbean side to get an experienced player like him back in the team as soon as possible.