Stakeholder summit points to new era of CARICOM-CWI collaboration

In what is being viewed as a significant pivot toward a more unified approach to governance, Cricket West Indies (CWI) president Dr Kishore Shallow has lauded Guyana’s President, Dr Irfaan Ali, for fostering an inclusive environment during the 22nd meeting of the CARICOM Prime Ministerial Sub-Committee (PMSC) on Cricket.

The virtual session, convened on Wednesday, moved away from traditional administrative silos, bringing together regional political leaders, CWI executives, corporate stakeholders, and a heavyweight contingent of past and present players.

Among those on the call were Antigua and Barbuda Prime Minister Gaston Browne, CWI vice-president Azim Bassarath, and CEO Chris Dehring.

Crucially, the cricketing fraternity was handed a direct seat at the table, represented by icons Sir Clive Lloyd, Courtney Walsh, and Ramnaresh Sarwan, alongside current West Indies women’s captain Hayley Matthews, ensuring the modern player’s perspective was integrated into high-level policy discussions.

“Bringing together government, the cricket community and the business sector around the same table speaks to a genuine recognition that the development of our game requires the input of all stakeholders,” Shallow said following the conclusion of the meeting.

“This kind of engagement is both timely and welcomed.”

The agenda focused heavily on systemic overhauls, stretching from grassroots community pipelines to the professional tier, encompassing both the men’s and women’s tracks.

To address long-standing regional facility deficits, the sub-committee deliberated on establishing a joint CARICOM-CWI Infrastructure Development and Utilisation Sub-Committee.

The proposed body is tasked with providing strategic oversight for the planning, maintenance, and modernisation of cricket and multi-purpose facilities across the archipelago.

While the terms of reference are still being finalised, the committee is expected to be formally ratified shortly.

Commercial viability and private-sector integration also took centre stage.

The sub-committee agreed to organise a Regional Cricket Business Forum, a targeted initiative designed to court Caribbean corporate investment and foster deeper public-private partnerships. (Modified CWI Press Release)