With the completion of the 2023–2024 cricket season assessments, Cricket West Indies (CWI) has announced the players who have signed new contracts. The decisions were made after the Board of Directors gave its approval and Selection Panel recommendations after a careful evaluation of performances during the 2022–2023 period was made.
The Men’s roster was notably enhanced by the arrival of four skilled players: left-arm spinner Gudakesh Motie, right-handed batter Keacy Carty, and left-handed hitters Tagenarine Chanderpaul and Alick Athanaze. Two new players signed contracts with the women’s squad for the first time: all-rounders Zaida James and Sheneta Grimmond have merited their places.
We have had numerous in-depth conversations with the two Head Coaches on the style of cricket they wish to play, ahead of a busy season filled with cricket in all three formats. We have a pretty clear idea of where we want to go. Desmond Haynes, Men’s chief selector, was quoted by Cricket West Indies as saying, “The players who have been offered contracts are among those who we expect to feature, as we look to build towards challenging for the top spot when we host and compete in the ICC Men’s T20 World Cup 2024 on home soil.”
Along with these two important tasks, he continued, “we also have away Test Series in Australia and England. In the 50-over format, we look to build a nucleus of players aimed towards the ICC Men’s Cricket World Cup 2027.”
West Indies cricket is experiencing financial difficulties.
The attraction of West Indian cricket has been significantly reduced by the new ICC structure that favours the Big Three—ECB, BCCI, and Cricket Australia. Internal conflict was compounded by a worsening financial situation. Significant financial disparities were found in a 2020 independent investigation on the West Indies Cricket Board, as reported by Forbes.
Cricket West Indies (CWI) acknowledged not paying players’ match costs for the white-ball series against Ireland and Sri Lanka prior to the outbreak. Concerns over the stability of West Indies cricket had been raised by this financial upheaval, which presented issues for player compensation and the general well-being of the sport in the area.
India
