Kraigg Brathwaite stepped down as skipper of the West Indies Test team after four years in charge, Cricket West Indies (CWI) said on Monday, while Shai Hope was handed the captaincy of the T20I side.
Brathwaite, 32, was appointed as West Indies’ Test captain in place of Jason Holder in March 2021.
Hope, who is also the team’s ODI skipper, replaced Rovman Powell for T20I captaincy. Powell has led the T20 side since May 2023. “The decision to name Shai Hope as T20 captain comes at a time when the team continues its evolution to a 3rd T20 World Cup title in 2026,” head coach Daren Sammy said through a statement on CWI’s X account.
During Brathwaite’s tenure, the West Indies earned their first Test victory in Australia in 27 years with a thrilling eight-run win in Brisbane last year.
Earlier this year, he led the team to a memorable Test win in Pakistan to level the series, a first in 34 years.
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His captaincy also saw the West Indies beat England at home in 2022 and secure a 2-0 series win over Bangladesh during the COVID-19 pandemic in 2021.
In a statement on X, CWI said, “Brathwaite wanted to ensure the team had a period of transition before his departure. As a result, he has submitted his resignation ahead of the home series against Australia, giving the new leadership time to establish itself.
“This series will be particularly special, allowing Brathwaite, who is two matches shy of 100 Test matches, to double down on his batting without added responsibility.” A new Test captain will be announced shortly.
“CWI extends its deepest gratitude to Kraigg Brathwaite for his years of service as captain, recognising his dedication to West Indies cricket and his leadership in guiding the Test team to significant milestones. A new captain will be named in the coming weeks,” the board said.
The West Indies is scheduled to play Australia in a home series in June-July, marking the start of a new ICC World Test Championship (WTC) cycle.
(With inputs from PTI)
