Shimron Hetmyer dropped from T20 World Cup 2022 squad after missing rescheduled flight

West Indies batter Shimron Hetmyer was dropped from the national side for the upcoming T20 World Cup 2022 when he failed to board his ‘rescheduled’ flight to Australia. Hetmyer's World Cup hopes are now in ruins as top-order batter and power-hitter Shamarh Brooks was named as his substitute by the Cricket West Indies.

Hetmyer, the middle-order power-hitter and one of the regulars in the side, had requested Cricket West Indies to reschedule his flight, initially planned for October 1, citing personal reasons. Upon his request, CWI was able to secure him a seat but Hetmyer then called Jimmy Adams, the CWI's director of cricket, to let him know he wouldn't be able to travel.

Mr. Hetmyer, informed he would not be able to get to the airport in time for his flight: CWI

“The decision by the CWI selection panel was made as Shimron Hetmyer missed his re-scheduled flight to Australia, which had been changed from Saturday 1 October at his request, due to family reasons. With flight availability a real challenge, a seat was found for him to leave Guyana today, Monday 3 October, meaning he would, unfortunately, miss the 1st T20 International (T20I) against Australia on Wednesday 5 October at the Metricon Stadium. This morning, Mr. Hetmyer, informed the Director of Cricket that he would not be able to get to the airport in time for his flight this afternoon to New York,” CWI said in a media release.

“This afternoon we informed the CWI board of directors that the selection panel had unanimously decided to replace Shimron Hetmyer with Shamarh Brooks in our T20 World Cup squad. Whilst we changed Shimron’s flight from Saturday to Monday due to family reasons, it was made clear to him that if there were any further delays and issues with his travel to Australia then we would have no choice but to replace him in the squad, as we are not prepared to compromise the team’s ability to prepare for this extremely important global event,” said Jimmy Adams.

Hetmyer was last seen playing at the Caribbean Premier League 2022 where he captained the Guyana Amazon Warriors. Following the unexpected turn of events, the CWI unanimously decided to replace him with Brooks, who would now depart later this week to join his national side in Australia.

He will sit out of the two T20Is of the bilateral series against Australia and will be directly seen in the Nicholas Pooran-led West Indies World Cup squad, which will play Scotland in the qualifiers. In order to make their place in the Super 12 of the T20 World Cup, West Indies will have to finish in either the first or second spot of Group B in the Qualifiers, which also includes Ireland, Scotland, and Zimbabwe