Brilliant in Brisbane but a toe injury suffered while batting means he will be unable to fulfil his ILT20 stint with Dubai Capitals
Shamar Joseph has withdrawn from his ILT20 spell with Dubai Capitals with a toe injury.
The 24-year-old suffered the blow while batting in the second Test victory over Australia at The Gabba after being struck by a Mitchell Starc yorker which forced him to retire hurt at the end of the tourists' second innings.
Joseph recovered sufficiently to bowl the Windies to a remarkable eight-run success with figures of 7 and 68 to secure a series draw.
Joseph was struck by Mitchell Starc at the end of the West Indies second innings (Bradley Kanaris/Getty Images)
He will now return home to recover ahead of his maiden Pakistan Super League stint with Peshawar Zalmi.
Though Joseph is set to embrace the overseas franchise lifestyle, he remains committed to West Indies Test cricket - a position not always readily embraced by his countrymen in recent years.
"This is my dream, to play cricket for the West Indies," Joseph said after his Brisbane brilliance.
The 24-year-old has spoken about his commitment to the West Indies Test side (Bradley Kanaris/Getty Images)
"I'm not afraid to say this. I will always be available to play for the West Indies, no matter how much money comes towards me. I will always be here to play Test cricket."
West Indies return to Test action in July and August with series against England and South Africa. The test of his commitment will come later in the year and during early 2025 when Tests against Bangladesh and Pakistan clash with a host of T20 competitions.
His PSL spell - he is expected to stand in for Gus Atkinson for the entire competition which begins from February 17 and runs until March 18 - could see him miss as many as four rounds of matches at the start of the West Indies four-day Championship for Guyana.
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