West Indies selectors have dropped Guyanese left-arm spinner Gudakesh Motie from the squad for their five-match T20 series against New Zealand due to a dip in form, according to a release from Cricket West Indies (CWI).
The CWI release stated that it’s not the end of the road for the 30-year-old Motie, as the spinner is expected to work with specialists through collaboration with the Royal Sports Group, the owners of the South African franchise, the Paarl Royals. Motie will be a member of the Royals team, which will compete in the SA20 tournament from Dec. 26 to Jan. 25.
The release stated that this current move will be vital in getting Motie back to his best, as he remains part of the West Indies’ plans ahead of the 2026 International Cricket Council T20 World Cup, scheduled to take place in India and Sri Lanka.
“Left-arm spinner Gudakesh Motie will also miss the series following a recent dip in form attributed primarily to a technical issue with his action. With conditions in New Zealand not expected to be as conducive to spin bowling, the opportunity will be taken for him to work with specialists,” the CWI release said.
Since making his T20 debut for the regional team in 2021, Motie has played a total of 85 matches, with 40 of those coming in T20s. He has taken 36 T20 wickets at an economy of 7.96, with 35 Test and 42 One-Day International (ODI) wickets.
In the absence of Motie, the left-arm spin pair of Akeal Hosein and Khary Pierre is expected to pick up the slack in the spin-bowling department. In contrast, the all-round pair of Matthew Forde and Shamar Springer has been drafted in to bolster the pace lineup, headed by Jayden Seales and Romario Shepherd.
Starting with the New Zealand T20 series, the Windies camp will be aided by the presence of clinical psychologist Krisnan Hurdle, who will join coach Daren Sammy’s setup as a mental skills and performance coach.
CWI’s Director of Cricket, Miles Bascombe, said Hurdle’s appointment was one of the immediate action items decided upon at the emergency Cricket Strategy and Officiating Committee meeting.
“The addition of a mental skills and performance coach reflects our commitment to developing the complete cricketer,” Bascombe said. “At the elite level, success is as much about mindset and composure as it is about technical ability. Strengthening this area ensures that our players are provided with the necessary non-technical support geared towards equipping them to manage pressure and maintain focus.”
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