Latvian basketball player Šmits has announced that he will not be able to join the national team for their upcoming matches against Poland, as he is recovering from an injury. This injury, which affected his leg muscle, was sustained at the beginning of February. Šmits was the only representative from the Euroleague club to be included on the candidate list for Latvia's national basketball team, making his absence particularly significant for the squad.

The Latvian team is scheduled to meet Poland twice during the upcoming national team window. The first match will take place on February 27th in Latvia, followed by a second game on March 1st in Poland. In their current standings in group F, Poland boasts two victories, while Latvia and the Netherlands each have one win. Austria is at the bottom of the group with two losses. The performances in these matches will be crucial, as the top three teams from group F will join the leading teams from group E in the next round, with a chance to qualify for the World Cup finals in Qatar.

The extended candidate list for the Latvian men's basketball team includes players from various clubs, indicating a robust selection process as they prepare for these crucial matches. With Šmits out, the coaching staff will need to adapt and possibly call on other players to fill the gap left by this key team member, affecting their strategy against a strong Polish side.