Shamar Joseph and Hayley Matthews emerged as the major award recipients at the 8th annual CWI/WIPA Awards Gala held on Sunday night at the Wyndham Grand Barbados Sam Lord’s Castle, where Caribbean cricket’s finest gathered to honour excellence and reflect on a golden milestone in West Indies history.
The ceremony also marked the 50th anniversary of the West Indies' groundbreaking victory at the 1975 Prudential World Cup — a moment immortalized when Sir Clive Lloyd’s team defeated Australia by 17 runs at Lord’s to become the first world champions of the sport. Surviving members of that legendary squad including Sir Clive, Sir Vivian Richards, Deryck Murray, and Sir Joel Garner were present, receiving standing ovations from players and guests alike for a triumph that continues to inspire generations.
“As we paid tribute to the legends who made it possible, it was also a reminder; legacy is not a trophy, it is fuel... Congratulations to all of tonight’s award winners... Let us keep pushing, keep rising, and above all else, keep rallying round the West Indies,” she posted on Instagram afterwards.
Joseph, whose sensational Test debut against Australia in January 2024 captivated the cricketing world, was named Test Player of the Year. Matthews, the inspirational West Indies Women’s captain, was a double awardee, claiming both the Women’s ODI and T20I Player of the Year titles in recognition of her consistent brilliance with bat and ball.
Marnus Labuschagne has been dropped for the first Test against West Indies and Steven Smith ruled out through injury with Sam Konstas and Josh Inglis named as their replacements.
The two changes were confirmed five days before the opening Test in Barbados on June 25, meaning Australia will have a significantly different batting line-up to the World Test Championship final against South Africa.
Konstas will earn his third cap having not featured since the two outings against India which began with his 60 off 65 balls on debut at the MCG. Inglis scored a century on his Test debut against Sri Lanka in Galle earlier this year.
Labuschagne had been moved to up to open in the WTC final, with the selectors opting for a last show of faith, but came away with scores of 17 and 22 to continue a two-year lean run in Test cricket.
Trinbago Knight Riders (TKR) have appointed former West Indies allrounder Dwayne Bravo as their new head coach for the upcoming edition of the Caribbean Premier League (CPL) 2025. He replaces Phil Simmons, who is currently the head coach for Bangladesh men's team.
"It's an honour to be given the opportunity to be Head Coach of TKR, a team that's very close to my heart," he said in a social media post. "I would like to personally thank coach Phil Simmons for his time and commitment over the last few years, and now I look forward to this new challenge for me and my staff."
Bravo played 107 matches in the CPL between 2013 and 2024, and took 129 wickets at an economy of 8.74. He represented TKR in nine out of the 11 seasons and won the title five times, including 2021, when he led St Kitts and Nevis Patriots.
The Republic Bank Caribbean Premier League (CPL) has confirmed all team squads for the 2025 season following the successful completion of the player draft. With several major international stars joining the tournament and a strong showing of regional talent, this year’s CPL promises to be another thrilling edition.
Saint Lucia Kings Aim to Defend Their Title
Reigning champions, the Saint Lucia Kings, are well-positioned for a strong title defence in 2025, with a blend of proven talent and exciting new additions. The team welcomes back high-impact overseas stars Tim David and Tabraiz Shamsi, both of whom bring world-class T20 credentials and match-winning potential.
Building on the momentum of their 2024 championship triumph, the Kings have wisely retained the core squad that led them to glory. They’ve further strengthened their roster with the inclusion of promising leg-spinner Micah McKenzie, one of the region’s brightest young prospects, and the return of Javelle Glen, who rejoins the side after previously featuring in their 2020 campaign.
The 2026 Women's T20 World Cup, scheduled from June 12 to July 5, will have Australia, South Africa, India, Pakistan and two qualifiers in Group 1, while Group 2 includes hosts England, defending champions New Zealand, West Indies, Sri Lanka and two more qualifiers. The semi-finals will be played at The Oval, while the final is scheduled at Lord's.
The 33-match tournament will take place across seven venues in England over 24 days. The tournament will have 12 teams, up from 10 in the previous edition in 2024. Apart from The Oval and Lord's, matches will also be held at Old Trafford, Headingley, Southampton, Bristol and Edgbaston and will have three different start times: 10.30am, 2.30pm and 6.30pm local.
The opening match will be played between England and Sri Lanka at Edgbaston on June 12. In a rematch of last edition's semi-final, New Zealand begin their title defence against West Indies in Southampton on June 13 while Australia start their campaign against 2024 finalists South Africa on the same day in Manchester. India face Pakistan at Edgbaston on June 14.
Other key Group 1 fixtures for India are against South Africa (June 21) in Manchester and Australia (June 28) at Lord's. Pakistan take on South Africa (June 17) at Edgbaston and Australia (June 23) at Headingley. The Australia vs India fixture will be the final group-stage match of the competition.
