Antigua to become hemispheric cricket hub under new CWI initiative

Chris Dehring, Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of Cricket West Indies (CWI), has unveiled an ambitious plan to position the Caribbean as a hemispheric hub for cricket, announcing the development of a state-of-the-art high-performance centre in Antigua and Barbuda.
Speaking at the CWI First Quarterly Press Conference of 2026 on Friday, Dehring outlined a bold vision to tap into the rapidly expanding global sports economy, which he valued at US$2.3 trillion.
“The global sports industry is today sitting at 2.3 trillion US dollars,” Dehring said. “The fastest segment – or should I say the largest segment – of that growing global sports industry is sport tourism at 700 billion.”
He emphasised that sport tourism extends far beyond travelling fans attending matches. Instead, it increasingly includes investment in elite training infrastructure – high-performance centres and academies – that attract international teams for pre-season camps and specialised preparation.
“What really has come about is an asset class – things like high-performance centres and academies,” Dehring explained. “Regions such as the UAE have dominated the world of cricket, where touring teams are scheduling pre-season camps in these places.”
However, he noted that geopolitical instability in parts of the Middle East has created hesitation among some touring teams, opening what he described as a strategic opportunity for the Caribbean.
“Unfortunately for our brothers and sisters in the UAE, they now have a war taking place and reluctance there. Unfortunately for them, it is actually an opportunity for the Caribbean,” he said.
In partnership with the Government of Antigua and Barbuda, CWI plans to construct what Dehring called the first “true high-tech, state-of-the-art” cricket high-performance centre in the region. The facility will be built on a 20-acre property in Antigua that CWI now fully controls.
“We have a 20-acre property that we have gotten 100 per cent control of this year, and we’re going to make that happen starting this year,” Dehring announced. “Our plans are very advanced. Funding is very advanced.”
The project aims to transform the Caribbean into a premier destination for international cricket teams seeking world-class training facilities in the Western Hemisphere. Beyond serving regional players, the centre is expected to attract overseas teams for pre-season preparation, rehabilitation programmes, coaching education, and youth development initiatives.
By positioning cricket infrastructure as a driver of sport tourism, CWI is seeking to diversify revenue streams beyond match-day earnings and broadcasting rights.