Cricket West Indies (CWI) has signed a potentially game-changing 10-year partnership with Caribbean CAGE, projected to generate US$100 million for regional cricket development.
The deal signed on Monday, which brings together the governing body for cricket in the region and the Caribbean’s leading operator of video lottery and gaming terminals, will establish a regional lottery that provides financial backing to increase cricket competitiveness on a global scale. The partnership will add another US$156 million for the governments participating in the programme.
Co-founder of Caribbean CAGE, Todd Washington, who has been a leader in the establishment of several lotteries throughout the region, including the Leeward Islands Lottery Company, shared his excitement at the prospect of collaborating with CWI on this level.
“We have a very important strategic team to execute this and to generate what we estimate to be, on the low end, approximately US$100 million for cricket over the next ten years, provided we have the enthusiastic cooperation of West Indies cricket—and we’ve had that,” Washington said. “This is a big day for CAGE and our commitment to cricket, and I think it’s an opportunity for us to assist Cricket West Indies and restore cricket to its leadership role in the world.”
CWI has faced significant challenges compared to wealthier cricket boards such as those in India, Australia, and England. These difficulties are driven by several factors, including a limited revenue base and the growing influence of global Twenty20 leagues that offer better financial incentives for players, impacting regional cricketers’ willingness to represent the men in maroon.
In a statement on his social media pages, the President of CWI, Kishore Shallow, noted that the partnership with CAGE would elevate cricket across the region.
“Together, we engaged stakeholders at every level, including the CARICOM Prime Ministerial Subcommittee on Cricket, to ensure this partnership reflects a shared vision for the sport’s growth and sustainability,” he said. “The resources generated will strengthen the regional cricketing ecosystem, advance our men’s and women’s teams, and contribute to rebuilding West Indies Cricket as a global powerhouse. This partnership underscores our commitment to cricket as a unifying force for the Caribbean.”
