2026 Rising Stars Women's Under-19 Championship Set to Kick Off in Antigua

The 2026 Rising Stars Women's Under-19 Championship is set to commence in Antigua from August 8 to 15, featuring young female cricketers from various Caribbean regions. This tournament not only aims to identify emerging talent for the upcoming ICC Under-19 Women's T20 World Cup but also focuses on the holistic development of players through various training sessions. With a competitive format and live broadcasts, the championship promises to be an exciting event for cricket fans and aspiring athletes alike.

By Narendra Chaudhary Aug 8, 2026, 16:39 IST

Overview of the Championship

Cricket West Indies (CWI) has officially announced the commencement of the 2026 Rising Stars Women's Under-19 Championship, scheduled to take place from August 8 to August 15 at various venues in Antigua. This tournament will showcase the emerging female cricket talent from regions including Barbados, Trinidad and Tobago, Jamaica, the Windward Islands, the Leeward Islands, and Guyana. Defending champions Barbados will aim to secure another title after winning the Rising Stars Men's Under-19 50-Over Championship in July.

Strategic Importance of the Tournament

This championship is crucial for CWI's strategy to enhance women's cricket in the region. It also serves as a significant talent scouting opportunity ahead of the ICC Under-19 Women's T20 World Cup, which is set to occur in January and February 2027 in Bangladesh. In line with CWI's goal of aligning regional youth competitions with the upcoming ICC age-group World Cup format, this year's tournament will revert to the T20 format after last year's 30-over competition.

Talent Identification and High-Performance Camp

Dwain Gill, CWI's High-Performance Manager, highlighted the championship's significance as the 2027 World Cup approaches. He stated, "This Championship is an excellent platform for identifying top talent in the region, aiming to build a competitive squad for the global tournament. Following the tournament, a two-week high-performance camp will be held, where selected players will undergo an intensive program focusing on technical, tactical, physical, and mental development to prepare for the World Cup."

A total of twenty players will be chosen to participate in the camp from August 16 to 30 at the CWI Headquarters, Coolidge Cricket Ground. Selection criteria will include on-field performance, technical assessments, age eligibility for the 2027 World Cup, tactical awareness, competitiveness, and fitness.

Player Development Beyond the Field

Beyond the competitive aspect, CWI aims to positively influence the young athletes' personal and professional growth. Training sessions will cover various topics, including nutrition, mental health, women's health, digital presence, anti-doping, and anti-corruption.

Tournament Format and Broadcast Information

Similar to last month's Men's Championship, the preliminary round will feature six teams competing against each other once over five rounds. The top two teams will then compete in the Championship Final, while the other teams will engage in placement matches to finalize standings. Matches will start at 9:00 AM, 10:00 AM, and 2:00 PM, with live streaming available on the Windies Cricket YouTube channel, along with live scoring, match reports, and daily updates on the official cricket website.

Match Schedule

Round 1 - Saturday, August 8

Leeward Islands vs Windward Islands - Liberta Sports Club @ 9:00 AM

Trinidad and Tobago vs Jamaica - Bethesda Playing Field @ 10:00 AM

Barbados vs Guyana - Liberta Sports Club @ 2:00 PM

Round 2 - Sunday, August 9

Leeward Islands vs Jamaica - Liberta Sports Club @ 9:00 AM

Barbados vs Windward Islands - Bethesda Playing Field @ 10:00 AM

Trinidad and Tobago vs Guyana - Liberta Sports Club @ 2:00 PM

Round 3 - Tuesday, August 11

Barbados vs Leeward Islands - Coolidge Cricket Ground @ 9:00 AM

Trinidad and Tobago vs Windward Islands - Liberta Sports Club @ 10:00 AM

Jamaica vs Guyana - Coolidge Cricket Ground @ 2:00 PM

Round 4 - Wednesday, August 12

Leeward Islands vs Trinidad and Tobago - Coolidge Cricket Ground @ 9:00 AM

Jamaica vs Barbados - Liberta Sports Club @ 10:00 AM

Guyana vs Windward Islands - Coolidge Cricket Ground @ 2:00 PM

Round 5 - Friday, August 14

Windward Islands vs Jamaica - Coolidge Cricket Ground @ 9:00 AM

Leeward Islands vs Guyana - Liberta Sports Club @ 10:00 AM

Barbados vs Trinidad and Tobago - Coolidge Cricket Ground @ 2:00 PM

Final and Placement Round - Saturday, August 15

3 vs 4 - Coolidge Cricket Ground @ 9:00 AM

5 vs 6 - Liberta Sports Club @ 10:00 AM

1 vs 2 - Coolidge Cricket Ground @ 2:00 PM.