Cricket West Indies Archives

West Indies players depart India on commercial flights

West Indies players have begun leaving India in batches on commercial flights after delays to a planned charter flight following the conclusion of the ICC Men’s T20 World Cup 2026.

Cricket West Indies confirmed the players’ departure in a press release, raising concerns about the team’s travel amid ongoing tensions in the Middle East.

The squad was left stranded following their last Super Eight fixture on March 1 against India.

Their head coach, Daren Sammy, also posted on social media regarding the situation, urging attention to the matter.

“As is customary for both men’s and women’s ICC World Cups, all travel and accommodation arrangements for participating teams are coordinated and managed by the ICC,” the statement wrote.

The charter flight, intended to transport both the West Indies and South Africa teams, was repeatedly delayed,” it added.

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The board said that after completing their matches, the squad remained in India for nine days while awaiting travel on the ICC-organized charter.

“After completing play, the West Indies squad remained in India for nine (9) days awaiting travel,” the board explained.

“However, ongoing uncertainty surrounding the ICC-organized charter, as a result of global tensions and aviation regulations, made the situation increasingly distressing,” the board said.

Cricket West Indies said it advised the ICC that waiting for charter arrangements was no longer prudent due to player safety concerns, adding that efforts were made with the ICC to secure commercial flights, with some players already departing and the rest scheduled to leave on March 10 and 11.

“Cricket West Indies appreciates the concern and interest of fans and key stakeholders in the resolution of this matter and wishes to thank all parties for their support and patience,” it concluded.

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Cricket West Indies monitoring player safety amid escalating Pakistan-India tensions

ANTIGUA: Cricket West Indies (CWI) has issued a statement regarding the safety of it’s players who are currently participating in the Indian Premier League (IPL) and the Pakistan Super League (PSL), amid ongoing tensions between Pakistan and India.

At present, there are eight West Indian players participating in the IPL: Sunil Narine, Andre Russell, and Rovman Powell are part of the Kolkata Knight Riders.

Nicholas Pooran and Shamar Joseph play for the Lucknow Super Giants; Shimron Hetmyer is with the Rajasthan Royals; Romario Shepherd is part of the Royal Challengers Bengaluru; and Sherfane Rutherford represents the Gujarat Titans.

Meanwhile, five players are participating in the ongoing PSL 10: Jason Holder (Islamabad United), Gudakesh Motie and Shai Hope (Multan Sultans), Alzarri Joseph (Peshawar Zalmi), and Akeal Hosein (Quetta Gladiators).

According to Cricket West Indies, they are in active communication with the stakeholders of the Pakistan-India cricket boards.

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“We are in active communication with the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI), the Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB), and our players currently involved in the Indian Premier League (IPL) and Pakistan Super League (PSL),” the official statement read

The statement further added that Cricket West Indies has engaged their strategic partner to ensure the safety of all West Indies players.

“We have also engaged our strategic partner, West Indies Players’ Association (WIPA), to coordinate and ensure the safety, security, and well-being of all West Indies players and support personnel in the region. The welfare of our people remains our highest priority,” it added.

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The board also highlighted WIPA’s contribution to current safety initiatives, noting that the organisation works together to evaluate risks and provide support to players during their engagements in South Asia.

“CWI continues to receive regular updates through diplomatic, governmental, and cricketing channels and stands ready to offer assistance where necessary.”

“We remain committed to the spirit of international cricket and to supporting our players through this uncertain and sensitive period,” the release concluded.

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Hope, Powell take over West Indies white-ball captaincy from Pooran

ANTIGUA: Cricket West Indies (CWI) have confirmed that Shai Hope and Rovman Powell will be the new captains of the ODI and T20I teams, respectively, taking over the roles from Nicholas Pooran.

Pooran stepped down from the captaincy of both white-ball formats following the West Indies’ forgettable campaign in the last year’s ICC T20 World Cup in November, facing an early exit from the tournament in the first round.

The first assignments for both captains will be the upcoming tour of South Africa in March where the West Indies face the Proteas in three ODIs and three T20Is from 16 to 28 March, following two matches in the ICC World Test Championship, said CWI on Wednesday.

With the 50-Over World Cup in sight later this year, wicket-keeper batter Hope’s foremost challenge as a captain is to earn qualification for West Indies in the tournament as his team is likely to play qualifiers scheduled to be held in Zimbabwe in June.

“To lead a team that is of such incredible significance not only to myself and my teammates but to our legion of fans the world over, is something one dreams of as a child,” Hope said in a CWI statement.

Hope has represented West Indies in 104 ODI games and vice-captained the side on a number of occasions. His exceptional individual performances earned him a place in the ICC ODI Team of the Year for 2022.

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West Indies may ‘cease to exist’ warns T20 inquest report

MIAMI: West Indies cricket may “cease to exist” unless the issue of its players prioritising global Twenty20 leagues ahead of international duties is resolved, according to a report commissioned by Cricket West Indies (CWI).

The report from a three-man panel made up of former captain and batting great Brian Lara, experienced South African coach Mickey Arthur and a senior judge Patrick Thompson, was commissioned after West Indies’ shock early exit from last year’s T20 World Cup in Australia.

West Indies have struggled with availability issues for players who feature in the Indian Premier League and other T20 competitions around the world.

“It is essential that some middle ground is arrived at. Otherwise, West Indies cricket may cease to exist as an entity,” said the report.

“This group does not indulge in doomsday predictions but no entity, sporting or otherwise, has a viable future if its talent is not harnessed and effectively managed,” the report added.

“It is not in the best interests of West Indies cricket that our best players play in every global league and play for the WI Team on an optional basis,” the report said.

The report urged a “frank and honest discussion” about the issue in order to find a solution to what it called an “impasse”

One of the issues blocking better agreement about player schedules and availability is the long-standing conflicts between players and CWI, the report said.

“In this group’s view, there is significant distrust between the players and administration and this distrust is inimical to ensuring that the best 11 players turn out for the WI Team in every match,” the report said.

The report made a series of recommendations for improving the functioning of the West Indies team ahead of the 2024 T20 World Cup which will be held in the Caribbean and the United States.

But the authors did not back the idea of a separate coach for red ball and white ball teams given the limited amount of Test cricket being played.

They also suggested that key players for the T20 side should be given more exposure to Test cricket in order to get used to the conditions and standard of opposition.

West Indies have enjoyed success in the T20 format, winning the World Cup in 2012 and 2016 — only England have also won the competition twice.

But in Australia, the Caribbean side finished bottom of their group, finishing behind Zimbabwe, Ireland and Scotland.

The report said the team were “underprepared” and pointed the finger at the short time between the Caribbean Premier League tournament and the T20 World Cup.

The report said that unless change was made, the talent pool of Caribbean players risked being used by others.

“WI cricket does not lack for talent but our small size in comparison with other cricketing nations means that we cannot afford to lose any talented players.

“Cricket West Indies (CWI) must develop and create clear pathways for the identification, development and management of talent. Otherwise, WI cricket runs the risk of being strip-mined by other professional leagues that can afford to harvest and develop our players for their benefit.”

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