Damoy Rowe
Cricket West Indies (CWI) has announced a major increase in prize money and bonuses for teams participating in the tournament as well as other regional competitions, totalling over US$2.5 million over a four-year period.
The announcement comes in the wake of the start of the CG United Super50 Cup, which bowled off on Tuesday.
There will be an incentive for the champions to take home a top prize of US$100,000 as well as the Sir Clive Lloyd trophy when they win the grand final on Saturday, November 11, under lights at the Brian Lara Cricket Academy.
The losing finalists will receive US$50,000, while the team that tops the points table in the league phase will also get US$50,000. This is the biggest prize money in the history of the tournament.
Dr. Kishore Shallow, President of CWI, says the aim of the move is to incentivise cricketers with the hopes of having more intense and competitive cricket. He noted that other developmental programmes will be put in place to help close the gap between international cricket and regional tournaments.
The increase also extends to all senior men’s and women’s tournaments. There is a big boost to the West Indies Championship that will be played in the first half of 2024. The champions of this traditional “red ball” four-day, first-class competition will win US$250,000. The second-placed team will receive US$100,000.
There is an increase in winnings for the Women’s CG United Super50 Cup and the T20 Blaze. The winners of the 50-overs will receive US$20,000 next year, with a minimum increase of US$10,000 annually over the next 4-year cycle. The runners-up will receive half these amounts.
The T20 Blaze winners will also be rewarded with an increase of US$10,000 for the winners next year, with further increases annually for the upcoming four years, while the runners-up will receive half these amounts.
CWI is currently finalising a new 4-year Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) with the West Indies Players Association, which will see further increases for individual players, including a major boost to women’s remuneration.