Hundreds of Young Fans Fill Sabina Park as CWI Opens the Gates to the Next Generation of West Indies Supporters for the "WI Outside!" Home Series
HIGHLIGHTS
- Hundreds of student-athletes attended the opening ODI against Sri Lanka at Sabina Park as part of ISSA Day celebrations.
- Children aged 16 and under receive free admission to every West Indies Home Series match this summer when accompanied by a ticket-holding adult.
- CWI CEO Chris Dehring: "It is more than access; it is part of their inheritance and a fundamental right."
ST JOHN'S, Antigua – Hundreds of young cricket fans and student-athletes helped create a vibrant atmosphere at Sabina Park on Wednesday as Cricket West Indies (CWI) launched a season-long initiative to provide free admission for children aged 16 and under to every match of the 2026 "WI Outside!" West Indies Home Series.
The opening One-Day International against Sri Lanka was designated ISSA Day, with a deliberate start time of 9:30 AM to facilitate the attendance of hundreds of students through a partnership between CWI and Jamaica's Inter-Secondary Schools Sports Association (ISSA). Their presence transformed the venue into a celebration of youth, sport and Caribbean pride, underscoring CWI's commitment to reconnecting young people with the game.
The strong turnout formed part of a wider initiative that will see children aged 16 and under receive free entry to all West Indies home matches this summer across Jamaica, Antigua and Barbuda, Guyana, Barbados, and Trinidad and Tobago when accompanied by a ticket-holding adult.
CWI Chief Executive Officer Chris Dehring said the scenes at Sabina Park demonstrated exactly why the initiative was introduced.
said Dehring.
he concluded.
President of ISSA, Keith Wellington, welcomed the partnership and its potential to reignite interest in cricket among young Jamaicans.
said Wellington.
The free-entry programme forms part of CWI's broader vision of making international cricket more accessible, family-friendly and community-focused while ensuring that young Caribbean people have every opportunity to be inspired by the players who represent them on the world stage.
From the Sri Lanka Series through to the final matches of the home season, young fans across the region will have the opportunity to experience international cricket free of charge and create memories that could spark a lifelong connection with West Indies cricket.
Families are encouraged to take advantage of the initiative throughout the summer and bring the next generation of West Indies supporters to the cricket.