The West Indies will take on Ireland at Kensington Oval early next year as part of a new three-year home fixture cycle.
It will feature the regional side in all formats of cricket with matches being played at most of the historic grounds in the Caribbean.
A media release from Cricket West Indies said it is “ a key feature of Cricket West Indies’ strategy to enable better planning across the region and ensuring that all international venues host West Indies cricket every year, will see visits by all the major international teams to the Caribbean between January 2020 and August 2022”.
New Zealand and South Africa will also visit the West Indies, followed by Sri Lanka, Australia and Pakistan in 2021. The following year Ireland will make a return and the West Indies will take on arch rivals England, Bangladesh and India on home turf.
The West Indies Women will also benefit as they prepare for the ICC Women’s World Cup in 2021. Later this month, they host India and will also host South Africa at home in May 2020.
Chief Executive Officer of Cricket West Indies Johnny Grave said: “This is significant step forward for CWI and cricket fans and stakeholders across the region. Not only does this provide a full calendar of international fixtures which allows us to better plan and schedule our cricket, but it allows everyone who supports and loves cricket to know when the next big game or tournament is coming.”
The West Indies men will play 11 Test matches in the ICC World Test Championship, 20 One-Day Internationals and 36 T20Is at home. The Brian Lara Cricket Academy in Trinidad is set to become the newest international venue for men’s cricket.
International cricket will return to Dominica and St Vincent & the Grenadines. Windsor Park stadium is set to host New Zealand in the third Colonial Medical Insurance ODI and the first T20I next year pending final renovations to the stadium following Hurricane Maria, while Arnos Vale in St Vincent could host back-to-back T20Is when Australia visit in June 2021. (AGB/PR)
