ST JOHN’S, Antigua (CMC) — West Indies bid to win their third ICC Men’s Twenty20 World Cup and become the first team to do it on home soil hit a snag when all-rounder Jason Holder was ruled out of the tournament because of an injury.

Cricket West Indies (CWI) did not specify the injury or the length of recovery time the 32-year-old Barbadian will require, but they indicated that left-arm fast bowler Obed McCoy will be his replacement in the final 15-member squad for the global showpiece, starting on June 1 in the Caribbean and the United States.

All the teams in the World Cup named provisional squads earlier this month and had until Saturday to make changes, after which they will require approval from the technical committee of the tournament.

The CWI media release announcing the final squad says Holder suffered the injury during his five-match stint for Worcestershire in the English County Championship from April to May.

“Jason is an experienced player in our set-up,” Lead Selector Desmond Haynes, the former Barbados opener and West Indies captain, said.

“His absence will undoubtedly be felt both on and off the field. We look forward to having a fully fit Jason with us again soon.

“While it is unfortunate to lose a player of Jason’s calibre, we are confident in the abilities of Obed McCoy.

“Obed has shown remarkable skill and promise in his performances, and this opportunity will allow him to further showcase his talent on the international stage. We believe he will bring a fresh and dynamic energy to the squad.”

McCoy is part of the West Indies side that defeated South Africa 3-0 in a three-match, Twenty20 International warm-up series that ended yesterday and has been played exclusively at Sabina Park.

He was the top wicket-taker for West Indies A on their Tour of Nepal from April to May, when he collected eight wickets in five matches at an average of 18.

McCoy will add a tinge more experience to a pace bowling attack led by Vice-Captain Alzarri Joseph and Guyanese rookie Shamar Joseph, with newly crowned Indian Premier League champion Andre Russell and fellow all-rounder Romario Shepherd for support.

CWI also named the five reserves — left-arm spinner Fabian Allen, wicketkeeper-batsman Andre Fletcher, pacer Matthew Forde, ambidextrous all-rounder Kyle Mayers, and leg-spinner Hayden Walsh Jr — from which Haynes and Head Coach Daren Sammy will choose in case of injury or exceptional circumstance.

“We are fortunate to have such depth and quality in our ranks,” Haynes said. “Our reserve players are all A-class talents who have proven their abilities in various formats of the game, but certainly T20. Each one of them is fully capable of slotting into the team seamlessly should the situation arise.”

West Indies will play in Group C of the World Cup with Afghanistan and New Zealand, and two ICC Associate teams — Papua New Guinea and Uganda.

Their first two matches in the tournament will be at the Guyana National Stadium where they face the Papuans on June 2 and take on the Ugandans six days later.

The Windies will complete the group stage against New Zealand on June 12 at the Brian Lara Cricket Academy in Trinidad and Afghanistan five days later at the venue named after their head coach in his homeland of St Lucia.

Before the tournament, the co-hosts will face Australia this coming Thursday in an official warm-up match at the Queen’s Park Oval in the Trinidad capital of Port of Spain, starting at 6:00 pm Jamaica time.

West Indies is a two-time champion of the tournament, having won in 2012 in Sri Lanka and 2016 in India under the leadership of Sammy and guidance of coaches Ottis Gibson and Phil Simmons.

Squad

Rovman Powell (captain)

Alzarri Joseph (vice-captain)

Johnson Charles

Roston Chase

Shimron Hetmyer

Shai Hope

Akeal Hosein

Shamar Joseph

Brandon King

Obed McCoy

Gudakesh Motie

Nicholas Pooran

Andre Russell

Sherfane Rutherford

Romario Shepherd

Reserves

Fabian Allen

Andre Fletcher

Matthew Forde

Kyle Mayers

Hayden Walsh Jr