ST JOHN’S, Antigua – Cricket West Indies (CWI) has confirmed a revised format for the 2026 edition of the West Indies Championship as part of its ongoing review of the structure and delivery of regional cricket tournaments for the 2026–2027 cycle.
The updated format forms part of CWI’s broader strategy to strengthen player pathways, improve performance outcomes and ensure the sustainable management of resources across regional cricket.
The review process involved extensive consultations with the Cricket Strategy and Officiating Committee, the Cricket Department, Finance Department and the organisation’s Executive Leadership Team. Guided by a purpose-driven approach, the review assessed the objectives of each tournament — including talent identification, selection finalisation, tour preparation and pathway development — and redesigned formats to maintain relevance and competitive impact while managing operational costs.
Under the new structure, the four-day first-class tournament will feature three concurrent, three-match bilateral series played across the region, with the traditional West Indies Championship points system remaining in effect.
Key Elements of the New Format
The six regional franchises will be seeded from one to six based on their final standings in the 2025 edition of the tournament.
At the conclusion of the bilateral contests, the three series winners will be ranked first through third based on the total number of points accumulated. The top-ranked team will advance directly to the Grand Final.
During the Playoff round, the first-placed team will face the West Indies Academy to maintain match readiness and ensure fairness of preparation ahead of the final. Meanwhile, the second- and third-ranked teams will compete in a Playoff match to determine the second finalist.
Tournament Scheduled Closer to International Home Series
CWI has intentionally scheduled this year’s tournament closer to the start of the international home series, which begins against Sri Lanka in June. The move is designed to allow players to achieve optimal match readiness ahead of what is expected to be a busy international summer.
While the revised structure represents a shift from previous formats, participating territories have embraced the changes and are already preparing for what is expected to be a highly competitive tournament. The West Indies Championship remains the region’s premier first-class competition.
Director of Cricket Miles Bascombe said the new format will continue to meet key performance objectives.
“Despite the reduction in matches, we anticipate keen contests. The change in dates has allowed for an extended preparation period, with most franchises holding multiple trial matches, setting up intense internal competition for places,” Bascombe said.
“The West Indies Championship will form a key part of talent identification and preparation for the home series, and the bilateral series format will add an interesting dimension that more closely mirrors the structure of Test cricket.”
As part of its ongoing modernisation of regional cricket, CWI is also exploring the use of ball-tracking technology during the Championship to support talent identification and enhance performance analysis.
The complete list of squads will be released once all six franchises have finalised and confirmed their selections.
Full Tournament Schedule
Bilateral Round
Match 1 – April 12–15
Match 2 – April 19–22
Match 3 – April 26–29
Windward Volcanoes vs Guyana Harpy Eagles – Antigua
Jamaica Scorpions vs Barbados Pride – Jamaica
Leeward Islands Hurricanes vs Trinidad and Tobago Red Force – Antigua
Playoff Round (May 10–13)
2nd Place vs 3rd Place – Antigua
1st Place vs West Indies Academy – Antigua
Grand Final (May 17–20)
1st Place vs Playoff Winner – Antigua