Cricket West Indies Confirms New Format for 2026 West Indies Championship
ST JOHN’S, Antigua – Cricket West Indies (CWI) has confirmed the format for the 2026 edition of the West Indies Championship, as the organisation continues its comprehensive review of the structure and delivery of regional cricket tournaments for the 2026–2027 cycle. The revised format forms part of CWI’s broader strategy to strengthen player pathways, improve performance outcomes, and ensure the sustainable management of resources across regional cricket. The review involved extensive consultations with the Cricket Strategy and Officiating Committee, Cricket Department, Finance Department, and Executive Leadership Team. Guided by a purpose-first approach, the review assessed what each tournament must achieve – whether talent identification, selection finalisation, tour preparation, or pathway progression – and redesigned formats to preserve relevance and competitive impact while managing operational costs. Under the new structure, the 4-day first-class tournament will feature three concurrent, three-match bilateral series played across the region, with the traditional West Indies Championship points system being utilised. Key Elements:
- The six regional franchises will be seeded 1–6 based on their final standings at the end of the 2025 edition of the tournament.
- The winners of each bilateral contest will be ranked 1st through 3rd based on total points accumulated, with the top-ranked team advancing directly to the Grand Final.
- During the Playoff round, the 1st placed team will take on the West Indies Academy to maintain match readiness and ensure fairness of preparation ahead of the final. While the 2nd and 3rd-ranked teams will meet in a Playoff match to determine the second finalist.
Streamlined for Momentum into the Home Series Window CWI has intentionally scheduled this year’s tournament closer to the start of the international home series, which commences against Sri Lanka in June, allowing players to achieve optimal match readiness just ahead of a packed summer. While the revised structure represents a shift from previous format, participating territories have embraced the change with focused preparation for what is anticipated to be a highly competitive tournament, maintaining the intensity and standards expected of the region’s premier first-class tournament. Director of Cricket, Miles Bascombe, said that the new format will still deliver on performance objectives.
“Despite the reduction in matches, we anticipate keen contests. The change in dates has allowed for an extended preparation period, with most franchises holding multiple trial matches, setting up intense internal competition for places.”
He added,
“The West Indies Championship will form a key part of talent identification and preparation for the home series, and the bilateral series format will add an interesting dimension, closer to mirroring the Test cricket format.”
As part of its continued modernisation of regional cricket, CWI is also exploring the use of ball-tracking technology during the Championship to support the talent identification process and strengthen performance analysis. A complete list of the respective squads will be provided once selected and confirmed by all six franchises.
FULL TOURNAMENT SCHEDULE: Bi-Lateral Round: (Match 1 – April 12-25; Match 2 – April 19-22; Match 3 – April 26-29)
- Windward Volcanoes vs Guyana Harpy Eagles @ Antigua
- Jamaica Scorpions vs Barbados Pride @ Jamaica
- Leeward Islands Hurricanes vs Trinidad and Tobago Red Force @ Antigua
Playoff Round: (May 10-13)
- 2nd Place vs 3rd Place @ Antigua
- 1st Place vs West Indies Academy @ Antigua
Grand Final: (May 17-20)
- 1st Place vs Playoff Winner @ Antigua