Here’s an XI of players who aren’t part of their respective teams’ 15-member squads for the flagship T20 event in Australia this year. It’s a diverse list: one hasn’t played a T20I yet, while another has featured in five editions of the T20 World Cup. A couple of them are travelling to Australia as reserves but not as part of a main squad.

T20 World Cup squads: Check the full squad lists for all 16 teams here.

Jason Roy – England

Only Eoin Morgan, Jos Buttler and Alex Hales have scored more runs than Roy for England in men’s T20Is. England’s long-standing white-ball opener, though, has been plagued by poor form of late: this year, he’s averages 18.72 at a strike rate of 104.04. Rob Key called it a “bad patch of form at the worst time” for him, but insisted that the 32-year-old had plenty of international cricket ahead of him.

Fakhar Zaman – Pakistan

Primarily batting in the top three, and lately solely at No.3, Zaman has been one of Pakistan’s most consistent T20I batters. The top run-getter in PSL 2022, Zaman was expected to continue in the role at the World Cup, but an untimely knee injury that he suffered while fielding earlier this month forced him out of the final 15. He’s part of the reserves list.

Sanju Samson – India

For the longest time, Samson has polarised opinion in Indian cricketing circles: some swear by his ability to turn a game on its head, others scoff at his perceived inconsistency. He had his two best IPL seasons in 2021 and 2022, and has struck at 158.40 in six T20Is this year, but couldn’t land a spot in the final 15.

Jonny Bairstow – England

Another first-XI player who lost out on a spot due to injury, Bairstow was expected to be a powerful presence in England’s middle order, especially on the back of one of his most fruitful seasons in international cricket. His 53-ball 90 against South Africa in July seemed to be a sign for things to come, but a “freak golf injury” to his leg ruled him out of the Australia trip.

Dewald Brevis – South Africa

Given the sensational year Brevis has had, he was expected to be fast-tracked into the South Africa squad for the T20 World Cup. After setting the U19 World Cup alight, and making his presence felt in the IPL, Brevis looked set for a South Africa debut. In the absence of Rassie van der Dussen, another youngster, Tristan Stubbs, pipped him to the spot. Brevis responded with five sixes in a row in a CPL game. Opportunity missed?

Andre Russell – West Indies

A couple of years ago, a West Indies T20I team would have been unthinkable without Russell, the engine of their middle order. A lot has changed for the team since, with a distinct change of the old guard in progress. Chief selector Desmond Haynes said that they had decided to “move on” from Russell, who hasn’t played since last year’s T20 World Cup. Given the message to the 34-year-old, T20 leagues could be the way to go in the future.

Ravindra Jadeja – India

A must-have in the side, irrespective of the format, Jadeja was expected to line up for his sixth T20 World Cup, having had, by far, his best year with the bat in T20Is (he averages 50.25 in 2022). It wasn’t to be: what is being reported by some media outlets as a “freak injury” related to ski-boarding during the 2022 Asia Cup resulted in a knee surgery, ruling him out of the World Cup.

Sunil Narine – West Indies

Narine continues to be absent from West Indies’ T20I plans, having last turned out for the national side in 2019. The 34-year-old hasn’t stopped plying his trade in T20 cricket around the world, and is currently among the top ten wicket-takers in the ongoing CPL 2022. The current stance around Narine is a continuation of last year, when the mystery spinner indicated he was not ready to make a return to the national side. Haynes revealed that Nicholas Pooran had reached out to Narine, but it “seemed he [Narine] was not interested”.

Jofra Archer – England

The wait continues. Archer’s comeback has been pushed multiple times, the latest due to a stress fracture in his lower back that came to light in May. He last played a T20I in March 2021 during England’s tour to India, and has since missed several key series, including last year’s T20 World Cup. A pace attack featuring Mark Wood and Archer in tandem would have been quite the sight.

Mohammed Shami – India

T20I cricket might not be his strongest suit, but Shami has still been a regular in the IPL (he’s one short of 100 wickets in the competition). Part of the T20 World Cup last year, he took twin three-wicket hauls against Afghanistan and Scotland, at a time when India’s bowlers had little to celebrate about. This year, he has been overtaken by a younger crop of quicks, although he found a place in the reserves list.

Shoriful Islam – Bangladesh

Technically part of the travelling contingent as a reserve player, Shoriful Islam has made a smooth transition from the victorious U19 World Cup side of 2020 to international cricket. Since his debut last year, only Mustafizur Rahman has taken more wickets for Bangladesh among seamers, and was part of their T20 World Cup campaign last year.