ST. JOHN’S, Antigua – As the West Indies Senior Men’s team prepares for a new chapter, Cricket West Indies (CWI) announces leadership transitions across formats ahead of a crucial home season. The upcoming home series will mark the start of the new ICC World Test Championship cycle with Test matches against Australia, while the tour to England and Ireland will see a new T20 captain settle into the role ahead of the campaign for the ICC T20 World Cup 2026 in India and Sri Lanka.
Kraigg Brathwaite has officially stepped down as Test captain, having first indicated his intention to do so to CWI leadership earlier this year ahead of the completion of the West Indies’ successful tour of Pakistan. Understanding the importance of continuity, Brathwaite wanted to ensure the team had a period of transition before his departure. As a result, he has submitted his resignation ahead of the home series against Australia, giving the new leadership time to establish itself. This series will be particularly special, allowing Brathwaite, who is two matches shy of 100 test matches, to double down on his batting without added responsibility.
Brathwaite’s official tenure as Test captain, which began in March 2021, has been defined by historic achievements. Under his leadership, the West Indies secured their first Test victory in Australia in 27 years with a thrilling eight-run win in Brisbane in 2024. Earlier this year, he led the team to a landmark test victory over Pakistan in Pakistan to level the series, the first in 34 years. His captaincy also saw West Indies defeat England at home in 2022 and claim a 2-0 series win over Bangladesh in challenging conditions during the COVID-19 pandemic in 2021.
ST. GEORGE’S, Grenada – Republic Bank is proud to announce the continuation of its partnership with Cricket West Indies for the RBL “Five for Fun” Cricket programme in primary schools across Grenada. This marks the second consecutive year of this exciting grassroots cricket initiative.
Launched in 2024 with the support of the Grenada Cricket Association (GCA) and the Ministry of Education, Youth, Sports, and Culture, “Five for Fun” is designed to be both educational and entertaining, providing students aged 8 to 12 from 30 primary schools the opportunity to learn the basics of cricket in a fun and supportive environment.
By prioritizing fun and participation over competition, the programme introduces young players to the joys of the game while fostering important life skills such as leadership, cooperation, and communication at an early age.
Chris Dehring, Chief Executive Officer of Cricket West Indies, emphasized the significance of Republic Bank’s continued investment in grassroots cricket development:
Dr Armstrong, now a UK-trained sports psychologist, speaking on the Mason and Guest cricket radio show on the Voice of Barbados Tuesday said: “I felt the statement was very vague. It really did not hint to any form of remorse.”
And she posed questions to CWI about its handling of the 2020 matter.
“Is there an appointed safeguarding officer for Cricket West Indies? Is there an appointed safeguarding officer for WIPA? If there is, I want to know if when the report was submitted to CWI, was the safeguarding officer notified at the point in time? If the safeguarding officer was notified, was there an intervention to investigate these instances?
However, the joint statement did not impress one former Barbados women’s player, Dr Dawn-Marie Armstrong.
Phil Simmons will continue as Bangladesh's head coach for the next two years, up until the end of the 2027 ODI World Cup. The BCB offered him a longer contract after initially appointing him as interim coach until the conclusion of the 2025 Champions Trophy.
"I am delighted to be given the opportunity to work with Bangladesh cricket on a long-term basis," Simmons, 61, said. "The talent within this team is undeniable, and I believe we have the potential to achieve great things together. I am looking forward to the journey ahead. Having worked with some exceptional players already, I can see the immense promise in this squad. Their skill and passion for the game inspire me daily. Together, we can take Bangladesh cricket to new heights and create something truly special."
Simmons did not have much success in his stint as interim coach. During that period, Bangladesh won one Test and a T20I series in West Indies but crashed out in the group stage of the Champions Trophy after losing to India and New Zealand.
"My time with the Bangladesh team over the past few months has been incredibly rewarding," Simmons said. "The energy, commitment, and ability within this group have been nothing short of impressive. I'm excited to continue helping these players reach their full potential."
Protected windows for international cricket, a more equitable revenue distribution system that supports growth and competitive balance, better regulation of player movements across T20 leagues, and an ICC as a global governing body and not a members' club; these are the headline recommendations from a comprehensive game-wide review by the World Cricketers' Association (WCA) to fix what it has called the "broken global structure" of cricket.
Some of the recommendations represent radical shifts to the existing ecosystem, such as reducing the BCCI's share of the ICC's revenues from nearly 40% as it is currently, to 10%; or introducing an interim independent global leadership body that helps modernise the ICC; or bringing in promotion and relegation and multiple divisions in international cricket; and optimising the calendar to produce an extra USD 200 million-plus annually into the game's economy.
But WCA insist the report - entitled "Protecting History, Embracing Change: A Unified, Coherent, Global Future" - is to be seen as the start of a debate on what a better cricket future looks like. Built off a six-month review, it arguably represents the first comprehensive effort to tackle the problems wholesale of a sport paralysed by the tussles between bilateral international cricket and burgeoning T20 leagues, by three different formats vying for space, relevance and revenues, and between its haves and have-not members.
