West Indies v South Africa T20Is: All you need to know

The Cricketer provides all the information you need ahead of the five-match T20 series in Grenada

What is it? 

A five-match T20 international series between West Indies and South Africa.

When is it? 

First T20I: Saturday, June 26 - National Cricket Stadium, Grenada (7pm BST, 2pm local)

Second T20I: Sunday, June 27 - National Cricket Stadium, Grenada (7pm BST. 2pm local)

Third T20I: Tuesday, June 29 - National Cricket Stadium, Grenada (7pm BST, 2pm local)

Fourth T20I: Thursday, July 1 - National Cricket Stadium, Grenada (7pm BST, 2pm local)

Fifth T20I: Saturday, July 3 - National Cricket Stadium, Grenada (7pm BST, 2pm local)

Where is it?

All five games are to be held at the National Cricket Stadium in Grenada, with the action packed into a week, starting and ending on Saturday.

Who’s involved? 

The West Indies named a strong provisional 18-man squad last month which was largely similar to the team that defeated Sri Lanka in a three-match T20 series 2-1 in March. Limited-over skipper Kieron Pollard will be joined by vice-captain Nicholas Pooran. Lendl Simmons, who was the top scorer for the Windies in the previous series, is expected to open the batting alongside Evin Lewis, the Trinidadian left-hander.

Chris Gayle, the West Indies’ T20 stalwart, will almost certainly be named in the final squad for the series, having been recalled to the provisional team. Pollard’s squad includes a range of experience in terms of bowling, and as he looks forward to the T20 World Cup starting in October, Sheldon Cottrell and Oshane Thomas may be back in the side. However, the talented young off-spinner Kevin Sinclair should be named among the final squad, together with Obed McCoy, the seamer who impressed in March.

^{Chris Gayle is recalled to the West Indies squad}

South Africa named their 19-man T20 squad in May. Faf du Plessis, who suffered a concussion while playing in the Pakistan Super League with Quetta Gladiators, will not feature. T20 and ODI captain Temba Bavuma was ruled out of the second Test with a dislocated finger and is a doubt for the series. AB de Villiers was not named in the squad to travel to the Caribbean.

The Proteas include five players who were ruled out for their four-match T20I series against Pakistan in April due to IPL commitments, and have now returned following quarantine protocols. The pacemen Kagiso Rabada and Lungi Ngidi will be a welcome boost to the squad, along with Quinton de Kock, Anrich Nortje and limited-overs specialist David Miller. 

^{David Miller has scored 1,484 T20 runs for South Africa}

West Indies (provisional): Kieron Pollard, Nicholas Pooran, Chris Gayle, Evin Lewis, Lendl Simmons, Andre Fletcher, Shimron Hetmyer, Andre Russell, Jason Holder, Dwayne Bravo, Fabian Allen, Fidel Edwards, Obed McCoy, Oshane Thomas, Sheldon Cottrell, Kevin Sinclair, Hayden Walsh Jr, Akeal Hosein.

South Africa: Temba Bavuma, Quinton de Kock, Bjorn Fortuin, Reeza Hendricks, Heinrich Klaasen, George Linde, Sisanda Magala, Janneman Malan, Aiden Markram, David Miller, Lungi Ngidi, Anrich Nortje, Andile Phehlukwayo, Dwaine Pretorius, Kagiso Rabada, Tabraiz Shamsi, Rassie van der Dussen, Kyle Verreynne, Lizaad Williams.

Will fans be permitted? 

It is expected that all five fixtures are to take place behind closed doors, barring any late change. The West Indies recently communicated that 400 fully-vaccinated fans could attend each day of the second Test match in St Lucia, but no such announcement has been made regarding the T20 series. Any changes would have to be in line with an agreement made with the local Grenadian government. 

Where can I follow it?

All of the action will be shown live on BT Sport in the UK. British viewers can follow the match through the official cable channels, or online on their official streaming service. 

Fans in the Caribbean can watch the series on Flow Sports, who recently signed a broadcasting deal with Cricket West Indies, on both the TV channel and their app. 

Viewers in India will be able to catch all of the action on FanCode, after the company signed a four-year deal to show West Indies cricket exclusively, including 16 international tours.