ST JOHN’S, Antigua — In a visionary step to expand cricket’s footprint across the Western Hemisphere, Cricket West Indies (CWI) has announced its leadership in forming a ground-breaking new regional body: La Federación de Críquet de las Américas (FECA).
The federation will serve as a collaborative platform to harness the rapidly growing enthusiasm for cricket in North, Central, and South America. As the only ICC Full Member in the hemisphere, CWI will assume a stewardship role—guiding development, facilitating partnerships, and aligning the region under a unified vision for growth.
Shallow: “A pivotal step for cricket in the Americas”
The move follows an official visit to Lima, Peru, by CWI President Dr. Kishore Shallow, who emphasized the strategic importance of regional integration in the sport.
“This marks a pivotal step in advancing cricket across the Americas,” Dr. Shallow declared.
“Cricket West Indies embraces its responsibility not only to the Caribbean but to the wider region. We recognise the importance of structure, collaboration, and a unified vision to unlock the immense potential that exists throughout the Americas.”
Dehring: Growth for all, strength for the West Indies
CWI Chief Executive Officer Chris Dehring reinforced the broader implications of the initiative, linking the development of cricket across the Americas with the long-term vitality of West Indies cricket itself.
“Our efforts to expand cricket must redound positively to each country under our remit,” he explained. “This growth will not only uplift national programmes but will also strengthen West Indies cricket by broadening our base, increasing opportunities, and deepening our regional relevance.”
Dehring pointed to the flourishing cricketing ecosystems in nations like Brazil, which boasts 72,000 registered players, a majority of whom are women under professional contracts. Countries such as Mexico, Colombia, and Argentina are also demonstrating strong growth, signaling a readiness for deeper engagement.
Bascombe: Expanding the game, expanding horizons
CWI’s Director of Cricket Miles Bascombe highlighted the tangible benefits of integrating teams from across the Americas into existing CWI tournaments.
“Including teams from the Americas in our tournaments brings clear mutual benefits,” he stated.
“It expands our competitions, giving our players more games and exposure to unfamiliar opposition, while providing valuable match experience for developing teams in the region.”
He added that this engagement would foster capacity building by creating new opportunities for players, staff, coaches, and officials, while enriching the region’s collective knowledge and competitiveness.
Currently, two youth teams from the United States are participating in CWI’s Rising Stars Under-19 tournament in St. Kitts, marking the beginning of what CWI hopes will be a long and fruitful regional integration.
Lima and beyond: Strategic pathways to the Olympics
Momentum continues to build as CWI prepares to send four Caribbean senior national teams to Lima, Peru, in November for the Bolivarian Games — an historic first for cricket and a symbolic entry into the broader South American sporting movement.
Looking ahead to 2027, cricket will feature in the Pan American Games, further aligning with its return to the Olympic Games. Caribbean nations with Olympic accreditation will have the opportunity to compete on an international stage, marking a defining moment for the sport’s global evolution.
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