The 2026 West Indies Championship is scheduled to commence on Sunday, April 12, introducing a new format that features three rounds of bilateral matches among six franchises.
A cricket West Indies press release shared that this tournament serves as a lead-up to a busy summer of cricket in the region, with players competing for selection to national teams while adhering to the high standards expected of the Caribbean’s premier first-class competition.
The current champions, the Guyana Harpy Eagles, have reportedly been a dominant force in the championship over the past decade, securing eight titles, including three consecutive ones. They will start their season against the Windward Islands Volcanoes in Antigua. The Harpy Eagles have an advantageous record against the Windwards, remaining unbeaten in their last five encounters, which include three wins and a draw, as per the release.
In their previous two matches, the Harpy Eagles achieved significant victories, with captain Tevin Imlach making notable contributions, including centuries in both games. CWI says that the team aims to continue its strong performance in the region’s first-class tournament, and Imlach is prepared to lead the squad.
“The Windward Islands Volcanoes have a competitive bunch of players, with some young talent who are eager to showcase their skills, but I believe we have the team capable of coming out on top against them when the tournament gets going,” stated Imlach.
Conversely, the Windward Islands Volcanoes are looking to improve after finishing at the bottom of the standings last season. They have added West Indies players Alick Athanaze and Kavem Hodge to their squad, along with Academy graduates Ackeem Auguste, who made his international debut in 2025, and Teddy Bishop, who captained the West Indies Academy team. This enhances their batting line-up, which includes former West Indies under-19 captain Stephan Pascal and experienced player Sunil Ambris, who has represented the region in 22 matches across formats.
Given this context, the defending champions are aware of the need to respect their opponents.
“It is important to remind the players that what happened before in the past years are gone, it is time to focus on what is now while creating our own legacy and playing a brand of cricket that is enjoyable,” Imlach noted.
Athanaze, who will captain the Volcanoes again, anticipates a more positive outcome for this year’s Championship and is excited to lead what he describes as a motivated group of players.
“I’ve been captaining this unit for a while and there is a level of familiarity with the group. I believe we have a team not just to challenge the reigning champions but to compete and win against them. We are not going into this viewing the opposition as impossible to defeat, because we are confident that we will be able to give them a challenge throughout the course of the series,” Athanaze expressed.
He was encouraged by the performance of several players during the final trial match before squad selection, particularly the younger members.
“Players such as Ackeem Auguste and Teddy Biship provide a good cushion to our batting line-up. Coming over from the Academy they have shown good maturity which I think will enable us to be a stronger team in this year’s tournament,” continued Athanaze.
As the first ball is bowled at Sir Vivian Richards Stadium on April 12, spectators can expect an engaging matchup between the champions and their challengers, each pursuing their respective goals.
Guyana Harpy Eagles Squad:
Tevin Imlach (Captain)
Kevlon Anderson
Tagenarine Chanderpaul
Richie Looknauth
Gudakesh Motie
Matthew Nandu
Keemo Paul
Raymond Perez
Veerasammy Permaul
Zeynul Ramsammy
Kemol Savory
Nial Smith
Isai Thorne
Windward Islands Volcanoes Squad:
Alick Athanaze (Captain)
Sunil Ambris
Ackeem Auguste
Teddy Bishop
Darel Cyrus
Kenneth Dember
Shadrack Descarte
Kavem Hodge
Ryan John
Noel Leo
Darron Nedd
Stephan Pascal
Gilson Tyson
West Indies Championship Bilateral Fixtures:
Round 1: April 12-15, 2026 – Windward Islands Volcanoes vs. Guyana Harpy Eagles @ Sir Vivian Richards Stadium, Antigua
Round 2: April 19-22, 2026 – Windward Islands Volcanoes vs. Guyana Harpy Eagles @ Antigua Recreation Ground, Antigua
Round 3: April 26-29, 2026 – Windward Islands Volcanoes vs. Guyana Harpy Eagles @ Coolidge Cricket Ground, Antigua
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