CWI announce central contracts for the year 2025-26, with three senior faces phased out of the list in the men’s category.
Greaves, Rutherford, Warrican get Cricket West Indies (CWI) contracts for 2025-26 season.
Former Test captain Kraigg Brathwaite, Joshua Da Silva, and Kavem Hodge are no longer on Cricket West Indies’ (CWI) list of men’s international retainer contracts for 2025–2026. In their stead, Jomel Warrican, Sherfane Rutherford, and Justin Greaves have been added to the roster of 15 players.
Shamilia Connell, Cherry Ann Fraser, Chedean Nation, and Rashada Williams are not on their list of women’s international retainers, however seamers Jannillea Glasgow and Shawnisha Hector have been added to the 13-player roster.
The core group is still there. The women’s roster still includes Hayley Matthews, Stafanie Taylor, Deandra Dottin, and Shemaine Campbelle, while the men’s list still includes Shai Hope, Alzarri Joseph, Shamar Joseph, Brandon King, Gudakesh Motie, and Jayden Seales. The agreements go into effect on October 1, 2025.
The retainers were awarded with “current performance and long-term potential, while keeping a close eye on our broader strategy of building towards major global tournaments” in mind, according to Miles Bascombe, director of cricket at CWI. He claimed that these choices were in line with the plans for the long-term prosperity of cricket in the West Indies.
Realeanna Grimmond, Johann Layne, Jahzara Claxton, Jewel Andrew, and Jediah Blades were also granted starter (development) contracts. In addition, 14 women’s and 15 men’s cricket players were awarded academy contracts.
After a run of poor results, the West Indies, particularly in men’s cricket but also in women’s cricket, are trying to find their identity again. Despite defeating South Africa in a T20I series in June, the women’s squad was unable to earn a spot in the current ODI World Cup in India and Sri Lanka.
There was a “emergency meeting” after the men’s squad lost 2-1 to Nepal in a T20I series in late September after being blanked in the Test series against Australia at home in July (the 27 all out in the final innings was the lowest of lows). Although they lost the matching T20I series, they did win an ODI series against Pakistan at home in August.