Alick Athanaze and Keacy Carty have been appointed captains of the West Indies A team for the upcoming T20 and one-day series against England Lions, with the Cricket West Indies (CWI) viewing the matches as an important opportunity to identify talent ahead of major international tournaments. The tour will feature three T20 matches followed by five one-day games in St Kitts and Nevis. West Indies A have named a 13-member squad for the T20 series and a 15-member squad for the one-day fixtures. While the T20 matches will help the selectors begin preparations for the 2028 ICC Men's T20 World Cup, the one-day series will serve as a key selection platform ahead of the ICC Men's Cricket World Cup Qualifier scheduled to begin in February. One-Day Series a Key Opportunity Ahead of World Cup Qualifier CWI has placed particular emphasis on the 50-over fixtures, with the World Cup Qualifier identified as the immediate priority for the senior men's team. The governing body stated that the five matches against England Lions would provide players outside the senior side with a valuable opportunity to strengthen their claims for selection ahead of the qualifier. The long-term objective is to secure qualification and build momentum for the 2027 ODI World Cup in October. CWI director of cricket Miles Bascombe stressed the importance of the upcoming assignment, saying the team was focused on winning the qualifier and carrying that form into the World Cup. He added that the England Lions series would play a significant role in determining the players capable of delivering in the 50-over format, while the T20 fixtures would begin the process of identifying suitable players and roles for the 2028 T20 World Cup. The West Indies have already qualified for the 2028 T20 World Cup following their Super Eight appearance at the 2026 tournament. Experienced and Emerging Players Included The T20 squad, led by Athanaze, features several players who have already made their international debuts, including Jewel Andrew, Vitel Lawes, Quentin Sampson and Kamil Pooran. Carty will captain the one-day side, which includes a blend of established players and emerging prospects. Athanaze, Andrew and Lawes have also been named in the 50-over squad, alongside international players such as Kevlon Anderson, Jediah Blades, Kirk McKenzie, Shamar Springer and Oshane Thomas. Rivaldo Clarke has earned a place in the one-day squad after Kevin Wickham became unavailable following his selection for the Test series in Bangladesh. According to CWI, Wickham had initially been in contention for selection before his international assignment opened the door for Clarke. Top-order batter Mikyle Louis will also join the group through a development attachment, focusing on improving his white-ball skills within the high-performance environment. Ottis Gibson to Assess Players' Readiness West Indies A head coach Ottis Gibson will oversee the squad during the series, with CWI expecting him to assess players' readiness for the demands of international cricket. Bascombe said the coaching staff had been tasked with clearly defining each player's role, identifying those closest to making the step up to the senior team and outlining areas for improvement. The series is therefore expected to provide more than just match practice, with individual performances and role clarity likely to influence future selection decisions. West Indies A Squads for England Lions Series T20 Squad Alick Athanaze (captain) Jewel Andrew Zachary Carter Shadrack Descarte Keon Gaston Karima Gore Joshua James Vitel Lawes Zishan Motara Jakeem Pollard Kamil Pooran Quentin Sampson Stewart Thompson One-Day Squad Keacy Carty (captain) Kevlon Anderson Jewel Andrew Alick Athanaze Jediah Blades Rivaldo Clarke Shadrack Descarte Jyd Goolie Vitel Lawes Kirk McKenzie Micah McKenzie Shaqkere Parris Jakeem Pollard Shamar Springer Oshane Thomas With eight white-ball matches scheduled against England Lions, West Indies A will have an important opportunity to test their depth, evaluate emerging talent and identify players capable of contributing to the senior team's future international campaigns.