CWI reintroduces first-inning points in four-day championships
Cricket West Indies (CWI) has officially announced the 2025 West Indies Championship schedule with a continuation of the popular eight-team format introduced in 2024.
This year’s tournament will feature exciting alterations, including reintroducing first-inning points in drawn matches, using Kookaburra balls in two rounds, and at least one pink-ball day/night match for each team.
Competing teams will vie for the prestigious Headley Weekes Trophy, US$250,000 for the champions and US$100,000 for the runners-up. Defending champions Guyana Harpy Eagles will aim to secure their eighth title in a decade following their thrilling victory in 2024.
CWI’s Director of Cricket, Miles Bascombe, said, “The West Indies Championship is a crucial pillar in our cricket development pathway. Having eight teams compete across the region reinforces our commitment to first-class cricket, which remains the foundation for developing Test players.”
“By exposing players to diverse conditions across the region, we are building the resilience needed to excel at the highest level. This year’s innovations and regional spread will broaden their experience and skill set.”
The 2025 Championship will feature seven rounds of matches involving the following teams: Guyana Harpy Eagles (defending champions), Barbados Pride, Jamaica Scorpions, Trinidad and Tobago Red Force, Leeward Islands Hurricanes, Windward Islands Volcanoes, Combined Campuses & Colleges (CCC) and the West Indies Academy.
The CCC and the West Indies Academy have been retained as permanent fixtures.
The competition starts on Jan. 29 and runs for three rounds until Feb. 15, when matches will be hosted in Guyana, Trinidad and Tobago, St. Vincent, and Antigua. The second phase resumes on March 5, with matches in Barbados, Jamaica, St. Lucia, Guyana, and Antigua. The final two rounds will occur from April 2 to 12 in Antigua, St. Kitts, St. Lucia, and Trinidad.
