Cricket West Indies (CWI) has confirmed that spinner Akeal Hosein and rising talent Jyd Goolie are currently facing delays in joining the West Indies T20 squad for their upcoming tour of England and Ireland, due to changes in UK visa entry rules for Trinidad and Tobago citizens.
The T20 series begins on Friday, June 6, 2025, but updated UK immigration requirements—effective from April 23 and May 12, 2025—now mandate visa applications and in-person appointments for travelers from Trinidad and Tobago.
Updated UK visa policy causes player delays
Director of Cricket, Miles Bascombe, stated that CWI began the visa process as soon as the new requirements were made public. However, Akeal Hosein was still completing his stint in the Pakistan Super League (PSL) until mid-May, which delayed the initiation of his application.
Jyd Goolie was a late addition to the Ireland T20 squad after Roston Chase was appointed Test captain on May 16, prompting Chase’s departure to Barbados for Test preparations. Unfortunately, Goolie was unable to take advantage of the visa waiver program, as the transition period had already closed.
CWI working with authorities to resolve the issue
CWI applied for a visa waiver for Jyd Goolie and expedited Akeal Hosein’s application. Despite these efforts, the matter remains under the jurisdiction of UK immigration authorities and is beyond CWI’s direct control.
In the meantime, Roston Chase will stay with the T20 squad for the remainder of the series before joining the Test team in Barbados ahead of the first Test against Australia.
“As soon as the updated visa requirements were announced, CWI began the necessary application processes,” said Bascombe. “We remain optimistic that Akeal will be able to join the squad shortly.”
Series continues amid administrative hurdles
CWI thanked fans and stakeholders for their continued support and understanding. The Board reiterated its commitment to managing logistics and administrative requirements to ensure full squad participation in international fixtures.
The West Indies will play T20 Internationals against both England and Ireland as part of their ongoing 2025 international campaign.
