BRIDGETOWN, Barbados — Kishore Shallow, president of Cricket West Indies (CWI), has confirmed that financial constraints were the decisive factor behind the exclusion of Kensington Oval from hosting international and regional fixtures in 2026.
Speaking on the radio program Down to Brass Tacks on VOB 92.9 FM, Shallow explained that the decision was rooted not in preference, but in economic necessity as the organization confronts mounting financial challenges.
Kensington Oval, often regarded as the spiritual home of Barbadian cricket, had been a fixture on the international calendar, hosting matches annually from 2021 through 2025, including marquee contests during the 2024 ICC Men’s T20 World Cup.
However, that continuity has now been interrupted.
“In a year when the series that we are hosting, Sri Lanka, Pakistan and New Zealand, we are operating at a significant loss, and so we have to minimise those costs as much as possible and that is what informed the decision by management…” Shallow said.
Mounting losses force strategic adjustments
CWI’s financial position underscores the shift. In its latest report, the organization revealed a net loss of US$28.5 million in 2025, a dramatic reversal from a US$22.6 million surplus the previous year. Cash reserves have also plummeted from US$17.5 million to US$1.7 million.
Faced with those realities, the governing body has been forced to rethink its hosting strategy, distributing matches across other territories to better manage costs.
“…this year will have two Test matches for the first time in Antigua and Barbuda and then we’re hosting games in Jamaica and we’re hosting games in Trinidad and Tobago and in Guyana,” Shallow explained.
Balancing regional equity and sustainability
Shallow emphasized that Barbados’ absence from the schedule is not a reflection of diminished interest or support, but part of a broader effort to ensure regional balance and long-term sustainability.
“Since Covid, Barbados has hosted international bilateral series every single year…There are other countries that have missed out on international cricket, some countries haven’t hosted international cricket for two or three years…But we’ve come to a stage where we’ve had to make changes because of the fact that we are trying our utmost to manage, to balance our financial statements,” he said.
He added: “…we want you to understand that this is simply a case of managing cricket across the region and ensuring that it is financially affordable and sustainable…”
Government concerns and CPL opportunity
The decision has not gone without reaction. Mia Mottley recently suggested that Barbados could no longer depend on CWI for a steady stream of international fixtures, pointing to that reality as a reason behind the country’s push to host the Caribbean Premier League finals.
Shallow, however, was quick to clarify that the Caribbean Premier League remains part of CWI’s broader ecosystem.
“Last year Guyana didn’t host any international matches, but they hosted CPL which forms part of our annual calendar…that CPL is indeed owned by CWI as well,” he said.
He added that Barbados’ successful bid to host the CPL finals ensures the island will not be without top-tier cricket this year.
“We are quite excited and happy that Barbados [would be hosting the CPL final]…I supported it strongly…that Barbados would be an excellent venue and location to host the CPL finals…”
Door remains open, with financial support
Despite the current exclusion, Shallow indicated that Kensington Oval’s absence is not permanent and could have been avoided under different circumstances.
CWI, he noted, would have been open to staging matches at the venue had there been financial backing from the Barbados government to offset operational costs.
For now, the omission of Kensington Oval reflects a pragmatic recalibration rather than a long-term shift in status. As CWI navigates financial headwinds, difficult decisions are reshaping the regional cricket landscape.
Yet, with continued interest from stakeholders and marquee events like the CPL finals on the horizon, Barbados’ iconic venue remains firmly within the game’s future, just temporarily sidelined by the realities of balance sheets and sustainability.
