Guyana, Barbados state-level intervention sees redistribution of West Indies/ New Zealand ODIs

A bilateral partnership between the governments of Guyana and Barbados has resolved critical logistical constraints ahead of the West Indies men’s 2026 international home season.

The joint state-level intervention has successfully rescued the multi-match home itinerary against New Zealand, anchoring a newly finalised schedule announced by Cricket West Indies under its fresh regional marketing campaign, “WI OUTSIDE!”.

The international home season features multi-format visits from Sri Lanka, New Zealand, and Pakistan, but administrative focus has centred heavily on the high-stakes negotiations required to preserve the New Zealand leg.

Operational bottlenecks originally jeopardised plans for Guyana to host the entire five-match One-Day International series dynamically. In response, the Guyanese administration initiated talks with its Barbadian counterparts to forge a cost-sharing and venue-partitioning framework to protect the fixtures.

Following a green light from New Zealand Cricket, the CWI Board approved the adjusted bilateral template.

Under the finalised agreement, the Guyana National Stadium will host the opening three ODIs on July 11, 13, and 16, before the series moves swiftly to Bridgetown, where the final two encounters will play out at Kensington Oval on July 19 and 21.

“Cricket West Indies engaged in discussions with the Government of the Co-operative Republic of Guyana regarding logistical challenges associated with hosting the five ODIs,” CWI CEO Chris Dehring explained regarding the mid-schedule correction.

“Subsequently, the Governments of Guyana and Barbados proposed a collaborative arrangement to share the matches and associated operational costs between the two territories.

Following consultation with New Zealand Cricket, Cricket West Indies approved the arrangement as part of its continued commitment to delivering a successful and memorable series for players, fans, and the wider Caribbean community.”

Dehring expressed substantial appreciation to the political leadership of both nations for acting decisively, noting that the board wished to express its “sincere gratitude to the Governments of Guyana and Barbados for their cooperative spirit, flexibility, and swift action in ensuring the series proceeds without disruption.”

The broader 2026 home calendar officially gets underway on June 3 in Jamaica, where Sabina Park is scheduled to host a brief white-ball package against Sri Lanka consisting of three ODIs and three T20Is across a two-week window.

The Sri Lankan tour then transitions to red-ball cricket with back-to-back Test matches at Antigua’s Sir Vivian Richards Stadium from late June through early July.

Following the New Zealand ODI series in Guyana and Barbados, Pakistan arrives in the Southern Caribbean for a highly anticipated two-Test tour of Trinidad and Tobago.

The first Test, running from July 25 to 29, represents a historic moment for regional infrastructure as the Brian Lara Cricket Academy in Tarouba prepares to host its inaugural international Test match, before the series concludes at the traditional Queen’s Park Oval in Port of Spain.

Concurrently, the board is utilising the “WI OUTSIDE!” fan banner to spark a renewal in live gates across the territories. Dehring highlighted the campaign as a vital effort to re-engage communities, bring local schools into the matchday experience, and foster a festival atmosphere.

“West Indies cricket has always been about more than what happens on the field. It is about people, passion, culture, pride, and the unmatched energy that comes alive when our fans rally behind the maroon,” Dehring said.

“‘WI OUTSIDE!’ is a celebration of that spirit and an invitation to every cricket fan and proud West Indian to come out, fill the stands, wave their flags, and create the kind of atmosphere that makes West Indies cricket special. We want this summer to feel like a movement across the region, where fans are fully engaged with the team and part of the experience every step of the way.” (Modified CWI Press Release) 

Fans are encouraged to secure their tickets via https://tickets.windiescricket.com/

Full International Home Series Schedule:

Versus Sri Lanka: All Formats

1st ODI – June 3 @Sabina Park, Jamaica

2nd ODI – June 6 @Sabina Park, Jamaica

3rd ODI – June 8 @Sabina Park, Jamaica

1st T20I – June 11 @Sabina Park, Jamaica

2nd T20I – June 13 @Sabina Park, Jamaica

3rd T20I – June 14 @Sabina Park, Jamaica

1st Test – June 25-29 @Sir Vivian Richards Stadium, Antigua & Barbuda

2nd Test – July 3-7 @Sir Vivian Richards Stadium, Antigua & Barbuda

Versus New Zealand: One-Day Internationals  

1st ODI – July 11 @Guyana National Stadium, Guyana

2nd ODI – July 13 @ Guyana National Stadium, Guyana

3rd ODI – July 16 @ Guyana National Stadium, Guyana

4th ODI – July 19 @Kensington Oval, Barbados

5th ODI – July 21 @ Kensington Oval, Barbados

Versus Pakistan: Tests

1st Test – July 25-29 @Brian Lara Cricket Academy, Trinidad and Tobago

2nd Test – August 2-6 @Queen’s Park Oval, Trinidad and Tobago