Shallow says Kensington Oval overlooked due to financial constraints
BRIDGETOWN, Barbados – President of Cricket West Indies (CWI), Dr Kishore Shallow has revealed that a lack of financial resources was the main reason behind Kensington Oval’s exclusion from hosting regional or international fixtures in 2026.
Speaking on the popular radio show Down to Brass Tacks on VOB92.9 FM on Thursday, Dr Shallow said the decision to exclude ‘The Mecca’ from upcoming home series against Sri Lanka, New Zealand and Pakistan later this year, came down to dollars and cents.He explained that while Kensington Oval had hosted international matches every year from 2021 to 2025, CWI’s current financial state did not afford them that luxury this year.
In its most recent financial report released last month, CWI disclosed that in 2025 it recorded a net income loss of US$28.5 million, compared to a net surplus of US$22.6 million in 2024.The governing body for cricket in the region said its cash resources had also fallen from US$17.5 million in 2024 to US$1.7 million in 2025.