CWI unveils plans to grow cricket across Americas

Following an official visit by Dr. Kishore Shallow, President of Cricket West Indies (CWI), to Lima, Peru—a significant event within the broader context of diplomatic and sporting engagements—the organization announced its plans to lead the establishment of La Federación de Críquet de las Américas (FECA).

CWI shared in a media statement that this proposed regional governing body aims to serve as a collaborative platform to coordinate the rapid growth of cricket across the Americas, with Cricket West Indies assuming a parental role as the sole ICC Full Member in the hemisphere.

Dr. Shallow described the initiative as an important step in advancing cricket throughout the region.

“This marks a pivotal step in advancing cricket across the Americas. Cricket West Indies embraces its responsibility not only to the Caribbean but to the wider region. We recognise the importance of structure, collaboration, and a unified vision to unlock the immense potential that exists throughout the Americas,” stated Dr Shallow.

In the CWI statement, Chief Executive Officer, Chris Dehring, highlighted the potential benefits of regional development and expansion. He emphasized that efforts to grow the sport should positively impact each country within the region.

Dehring explained, “Our efforts to expand cricket must redound positively to each country under our remit. This growth will not only uplift national programmes but will also strengthen West Indies cricket by broadening our base, increasing opportunities and deepening our regional relevance. With the emergence and development of cricketing hubs in areas such as Brazil, with 72,000 registered players—most of whom are women under professional contracts—alongside Mexico, Colombia, and Argentina, this region is ripe for meaningful engagement.”

The release also stated that Miles Bascombe, Director of Cricket at CWI, underscored the ongoing engagement with member countries in territories like the Bahamas and Bermuda. He highlighted the growing regional appetite for development partnerships.

“Including teams from the Americas in our tournaments brings clear mutual benefits,” Bascombe said. “It expands our competitions, giving our players more games and exposure to unfamiliar opposition, while providing valuable match experience for developing teams in the region. It also opens opportunities for players, staff, and officials, and allows our coaches and technical staff to both contribute to and benefit from regional capacity building.”

CWI reports that currently, two youth teams from the United States are participating in CWI’s Rising Stars U19 Tournament in St. Kitts, exemplifying ongoing collaboration with North American neighbors.

Looking ahead, in November, four Caribbean national senior teams are scheduled to travel to Lima, the capital of Peru, to participate in the Bolivarian Games—an historic first for cricket and a symbolic entry point into the South American sporting movement.

Furthermore, cricket is slated to feature in the 2027 Pan American Games, where Caribbean nations with Olympic accreditation will compete on an international stage. This move aligns with efforts to reintroduce cricket to the Olympic program, offering further opportunities for the sport’s growth and recognition in the region.

According to CWI leaderhip,” the proposed establishment of FECA represents a bold new chapter in cricket’s evolution in the Americas—and will solidify Cricket West Indies’ place as the torchbearer of the sport’s future in the Western Hemisphere.”