ST JOHN’S, Antigua — In a visionary step to broaden cricket’s footprint throughout the Western Hemisphere, Cricket West Indies (CWI) has introduced its management in forming a ground-breaking new regional physique: La Federación de Críquet de las Américas (FECA).
The federation will function a collaborative platform to harness the quickly rising enthusiasm for cricket in North, Central, and South America. As the one ICC Full Member within the hemisphere, CWI will assume a stewardship function—guiding growth, facilitating partnerships, and aligning the area underneath a unified imaginative and prescient for progress.
Shallow: “A pivotal step for cricket within the Americas”
The transfer follows an official go to to Lima, Peru, by CWI President Dr. Kishore Shallow, who emphasised the strategic significance of regional integration within the sport.
“This marks a pivotal step in advancing cricket throughout the Americas,” Dr. Shallow declared.
“Cricket West Indies embraces its duty not solely to the Caribbean however to the broader area. We recognise the significance of construction, collaboration, and a unified imaginative and prescient to unlock the immense potential that exists all through the Americas.”
Dehring: Progress for all, power for the West Indies
CWI Chief Government Officer Chris Dehring strengthened the broader implications of the initiative, linking the event of cricket throughout the Americas with the long-term vitality of West Indies cricket itself.
“Our efforts to broaden cricket should redound positively to every nation underneath our remit,” he defined. “This progress won’t solely uplift nationwide programmes however may also strengthen West Indies cricket by broadening our base, rising alternatives, and deepening our regional relevance.”
Dehring pointed to the flourishing cricketing ecosystems in nations like Brazil, which boasts 72,000 registered gamers, a majority of whom are girls underneath skilled contracts. Nations akin to Mexico, Colombia, and Argentina are additionally demonstrating sturdy progress, signaling a readiness for deeper engagement.
Bascombe: Increasing the sport, increasing horizons
CWI’s Director of Cricket Miles Bascombe highlighted the tangible advantages of integrating groups from throughout the Americas into present CWI tournaments.
“Together with groups from the Americas in our tournaments brings clear mutual advantages,” he said.
“It expands our competitions, giving our gamers extra video games and publicity to unfamiliar opposition, whereas offering beneficial match expertise for growing groups within the area.”
He added that this engagement would foster capability constructing by creating new alternatives for gamers, workers, coaches, and officers, whereas enriching the area’s collective information and competitiveness.
At the moment, two youth groups from the US are collaborating in CWI’s Rising Stars Beneath-19 match in St. Kitts, marking the start of what CWI hopes will likely be a protracted and fruitful regional integration.
Lima and past: Strategic pathways to the Olympics
Momentum continues to construct as CWI prepares to ship 4 Caribbean senior nationwide groups to Lima, Peru, in November for the Bolivarian Video games — an historic first for cricket and a symbolic entry into the broader South American sporting motion.
Waiting for 2027, cricket will characteristic within the Pan American Video games, additional aligning with its return to the Olympic Video games. Caribbean nations with Olympic accreditation may have the chance to compete on a world stage, marking a defining second for the game’s international evolution.
