Cricket : From Regional Competition to World Cup Preparation: 22 Rising Stars Selected for CWI High-Performance Camp

ST. JOHN’S, Antigua – Twenty-two of the Caribbean’s promising young female cricketers have been given an immediate opportunity to build on their performances in the recently concluded Rising Stars Women’s Under-19 Championship, as Cricket West Indies (CWI) steps up preparations for the ICC Under-19 Women’s T20 World Cup in 2027.

The players have transitioned directly from the successful regional tournament into a two-week High-Performance Camp in Antigua, which began on August 17 and runs until August 29. The initiative is part of CWI’s deliberate approach to identifying, developing and preparing the next generation of West Indies women cricketers for the demands of international competition.

The Rising Stars Women’s Under-19 Championship, which concluded on August 15, provided CWI’s High-Performance team with an opportunity to assess the region’s leading young talent in a competitive environment. Selection for the camp was based on a combination of on-field performances and technical assessments, age eligibility for the 2027 World Cup, tactical awareness, temperament and competitiveness, fitness and the overall balance and composition of the squad.

The programme will focus on technical, tactical, physical and mental development, while providing the players with greater exposure to the standards, intensity, and expectations associated with progressing to the international level.

CWI High-Performance Manager Dwain Gill said the immediate transition from regional competition into a high-performance environment was intentional and important to the players’ development.

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“The Rising Stars Championship gave us a valuable opportunity to see these players compete, respond to pressure and demonstrate their potential in a regional environment. We did not want that assessment process to end with the tournament. Bringing the selected players directly into camp allows us to build on what we have seen, work more closely with them, and begin addressing the areas that will be critical to their progression. This is an important first step in building a group that can be competitive at the 2027 World Cup, while also developing players who can contribute to West Indies women’s cricket beyond the Under-19 level.”

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The camp will also extend beyond on-field development, continuing CWI’s broader commitment to preparing young cricketers for the demands of high-performance sport and professional cricket. Educational and development sessions will address areas relevant to their personal and professional growth.

On the field, the players will work with several members of CWI’s High-Performance coaching staff, led by Senior Women’s Assistant Coach Ryan Austin, alongside Shane Dowrich, who has been part of the West Indies Women’s recent assignments, including the ICC T20 World Cup in England and Wales, and West Indies Academy Head Coach Ramesh Subasinghe.