CARICOM calls for West Indies Cricket to conduct review of its governance
Key Points(5)
- The Caribbean Community (CARICOM) is calling for urgent and comprehensive reforms to rescue West Indies cricket, amid what it describes as a “moment of reckoning” for one of the region’s most culturally significant institutions.
- In a statement issued today, the CARICOM Prime Ministerial Sub-Committee (PMSC) on Cricket voiced deep concern over the current state of the sport across the region, particularly in the long form of the game.
- The call follows a virtual meeting of the CARICOM Bureau held on July 21, which brought together Jamaica’s Prime Minister and Incumbent Chair Dr.
- Andrew Holness, Barbados’ Outgoing Chair Prime Minister Mia Amor Mottley, and Incoming Chair Prime Minister Dr.
- The discussion on cricket was led by the Chair of the PMSC, Guyana’s President Dr.
The Caribbean Community (CARICOM) is calling for urgent and comprehensive reforms to rescue West Indies cricket, amid what it describes as a “moment of reckoning” for one of the region’s most culturally significant institutions.
In a statement issued today, the CARICOM Prime Ministerial Sub-Committee (PMSC) on Cricket voiced deep concern over the current state of the sport across the region, particularly in the long form of the game. The call follows a virtual meeting of the CARICOM Bureau held on July 21, which brought together Jamaica’s Prime Minister and Incumbent Chair Dr. Andrew Holness, Barbados’ Outgoing Chair Prime Minister Mia Amor Mottley, and Incoming Chair Prime Minister Dr. Terrance Drew of St. Kitts and Nevis. The discussion on cricket was led by the Chair of the PMSC, Guyana’s President Dr. Mohamed Irfaan Ali.
“Cricket has, for decades, been a platform through which our small nations have collectively stood tall on the world stage. West Indies Cricket is very much a ‘public good,’” the PMSC said in the statement, acknowledging the sport’s economic, emotional, developmental and cultural importance to the Caribbean.
The committee raised alarms over a wide range of issues plaguing the sport—from youth development and talent retention to governance failures and the lack of a long-term strategy.
The sub-committee also expressed disappointment in the limited progress made in implementing the recommendations from previous landmark reports on cricket governance, including the Patterson Report (2007), the Barriteau Report (2015), and the Wehby Report (2020).
“We urge Cricket West Indies (CWI), yet again, to take the concrete actions outlined in these Reports,” the statement read.
To advance the reform agenda, the PMSC announced the formation of a special committee that will include cricket legends, private sector leaders, academics, and other stakeholders. The aim is to synthesize the recommendations from past reports and develop a unified Action Plan. CWI and national cricket associations will be invited to participate in the consultation and review process.
CARICOM reaffirmed its commitment to working with CWI and the public to drive “bold, strategic reforms” to restore regional pride and return West Indies cricket to the top tier of the global game.
“Every cricket match in which our West Indies Team competes resonates far beyond the boundary,” the statement concluded.
