WI Rising Stars U-19 Championship returns as Caribbean’s best young talent takes centre stage

The future of West Indies cricket will once again be on full display when the 2026 Cricket West Indies Rising Stars Men’s Under-19 50-Over Championship bowls off in Antigua this Saturday, July 11.

Six territorial teams – Barbados, Guyana, Jamaica, Leeward Islands, Trinidad and Tobago and the Windward Islands – will compete over 11 days in a highly competitive tournament that serves as the premier proving ground for the region’s next generation of cricketers.

The tournament will be played in a 50-over format, providing players with an ideal platform to showcase their skills, strengthen their claims for higher honours and continue their development within Cricket West Indies’ high-performance pathway.

CWI’s High-Performance Manager Dwain Gill said the championship remains one of the most important development events on the regional cricket calendar.

“The Rising Stars Championship continues to play a vital role in identifying and developing the players who will shape the future of West Indies cricket. Every year we see young cricketers seize this opportunity to demonstrate their talent, character and competitive spirit, and many go on to represent the West Indies at the highest levels of the game.

“This tournament is about much more than results. It is an opportunity for our players to experience high-performance environments, compete under pressure and continue building the skills and habits required for international cricket. We look forward to another exciting championship and wish all six teams every success,” Gill added.

The competition begins with defending champions Barbados facing the Windwards Islands at Bethesda Playing Field, the Leeward Islands taking on Jamaica at Coolidge Cricket Ground, while Trinidad and Tobago meet Guyana at Liberta Sports Club.

Following five preliminary rounds, the top two teams will contest the Championship Final at Liberta Sports Club on Wednesday, July 22, while the remaining teams compete in placement matches to determine the final standings.

In addition to on-field competition, players will participate in a comprehensive programme of development activities, including Anti-Corruption and Player Development workshops, reinforcing Cricket West Indies’ commitment to producing well-rounded athletes both on and off the field.

All matches begin at 9:30h Eastern Caribbean Time and will be streamed live on the Windies Cricket YouTube channel, with live scoring, match reports and daily updates available on www.windiescricket.com.

ROUND 1 – SATURDAY, JULY 11

Leeward Islands vs Jamaica – Coolidge Cricket Ground

Trinidad and Tobago vs Guyana – Liberta Sports Club

Windward Islands vs Barbados – Bethesda Playing Field

ROUND 2 – MONDAY, JULY 13

Trinidad and Tobago vs Windward Islands – Coolidge Cricket Ground

Leeward Islands vs Barbados – Liberta Sports Club

Jamaica vs Guyana – Bethesda Playing Field

ROUND 3 – WEDNESADY, JULY 15

Barbados vs Guyana – Coolidge Cricket Ground

Trinidad and Tobago vs Jamaica – Liberta Sports Club

Windward Islands vs Leeward Islands – Bethesda Playing Field

ROUND 4 – SATURDAY, JULY 18

Leeward Islands vs Guyana – Liberta Sports Club

Trinidad and Tobago vs Barbados – Piggots

Windward Islands vs Jamaica – Bethesda Playing Field

ROUND 5 – MONDAY, JULY 20

Windward Islands vs Guyana – Piggots

Trinidad and Tobago vs Leeward Islands – Liberta Sports Club

Jamaica vs Barbados – Bethesda Playing Field

FINAL & PLACEMENT ROUND – WEDNESDAY, JULY 22

1 vs 2 – Liberta Sports Club

3 vs 4 – Bethesda Playing Field

5 vs 6 – Piggots