Barbados eye double as CWI Women’s U-19 Champs bowls off

ST JOHN’S, Antigua (CMC):

The future stars of West Indies women’s cricket will take centre stage as the 2026 Rising Stars Women’s Under-19 Championship bowls off in Antigua from August 8-15, with defending champions Barbados aiming to complete a remarkable regional double.

Fresh off their triumph in last month’s Rising Stars Men’s Under-19 50-Over Championship, the Barbadian women will be eager to emulate their male counterparts when they open against Guyana in today’s final match of a triple-header at the Liberta Sports Club.

The week-long tournament brings together the region’s most promising female talent from Barbados, Trinidad and Tobago, Jamaica, the Windward Islands, the Leeward Islands and Guyana, all vying for supremacy in what promises to be a fiercely contested affair.

Beyond regional bragging rights, the championship serves as a critical talent-identification platform ahead of the ICC Under-19 Women’s T20 World Cup, scheduled for January-February 2027 in Bangladesh. In line with Cricket West Indies’ approach of aligning youth competitions with the next ICC format, this year’s edition returns to T20 following last year’s 30-over competition.

CWI High-Performance Manager Dwain Gill underscored the tournament’s importance.

“With the 2027 Under-19 Women’s World Cup quickly approaching, the Championship provides a perfect opportunity for us to identify the region’s top talent to build a competitive squad for the global tournament,” Gill said.

The scouting process will continue after the final ball, with a two-week high-performance camp set for August 16-30 at Coolidge Cricket Ground. Twenty players will be selected based on performance, technical ability, age eligibility, tactical awareness, temperament, fitness, and squad balance.

“Women’s cricket around the world is advancing rapidly. Therefore, we must continue our investment in the next generation of players to ensure we remain competitive on the international stage,” Gill added. “The Rising Stars Under-19 Women’s Championship is a critical part of that journey.”

The tournament will also emphasise personal and professional development, with players receiving training in nutrition, mental and women’s health, digital presence, anti-doping, and anti-corruption protocols — mirroring the holistic approach taken during last month’s men’s championship.

The six teams will compete in a round-robin preliminary stage, each playing once over five rounds. The top two will contest the Championship Final on August 15, while the remaining sides will play placement matches to determine final standings.