Harpy Eagles open title defence as West Indies Championship bowls off today

The 2026 West Indies Championship bowls off today with a revised format, as the region’s six franchises begin the first of three rounds of bilateral matches in what is expected to be a competitive season.
Reigning champions the Guyana Harpy Eagles will open their campaign against the Windward Islands Volcanoes in Antigua. The Guyanese franchise enters the contest with a strong record against their opponents, having gone unbeaten in their last five meetings, which include three wins and a draw.

Their recent dominance has been underpinned by Captain Tevin Imlach, who struck centuries in each of the last two encounters between the sides to guide his team to convincing victories. With eight titles over the past decade, including three consecutive championships, the Harpy Eagles will be aiming to continue their hold on the competition.
On the other side, the Volcanoes are targeting improved results after finishing at the bottom of the standings last season. Led by Alick Athanaze, the squad has been strengthened by the inclusion of West Indies representatives Kavem Hodge, along with emerging talents Ackeem Auguste and Teddy Bishop, both products of the West Indies Academy.
Their batting unit will also feature former West Indies Under-19 Captain Stephan Pascal and experienced campaigner Sunil Ambris, who has represented the region across formats.
Guyana Harpy Eagles squad: Tevin Imlach (Captain), Kevlon Anderson, Tagenarine Chanderpaul, Richie Looknauth, Gudakesh Motie, Matthew Nandu, Keemo Paul, Raymond Perez, Veerasammy Permaul, Zeynul Ramsammy, Kemol Savory, Nial Smith, and Isai Thorne.