As the 2026 West Indies Championship enters its decisive phase, two of Caribbean cricket’s most competitive sides are gearing up for a winner-takes-all playoff this weekend, with a spot in the tournament final on the line. From May 10 to 13 at Antigua’s Coolidge Cricket Ground, Trinidad & Tobago Red Force will face off against Barbados Pride, with the victor earning the right to challenge undefeated defending champions Guyana Harpy Eagles in the title decider scheduled for May 20.
Both teams enter the high-stakes fixture brimming with confidence, having earned their playoff places through gritty, consistent performances across the group stage. The Red Force secured their second-place finish on the standings with 53.6 points, anchored by a dominant innings-and-271-run win over Leeward Islands Hurricanes in their opening group fixture, followed by two solid drawn matches that preserved their position at the top of the table. The Red Force hold a recent psychological edge over their rivals: in their 2025 encounter at Barbados’ Kensington Oval, the side bowled out the Pride for just 86 runs in their first innings, sealing a comfortable innings-and-56-run victory inside two days.
For the Barbados Pride, the road to the playoff has been a comeback story for the ages. After falling to an opening-match defeat against Jamaica Scorpions, the side fought back to end the bilateral group stage with 42.2 points, edging out the Scorpions’ 34 points to claim their playoff spot. A dramatic innings-and-11-run win in the third fixture, after a high-scoring second match ended in a draw, levelled the series and secured Pride’s place in the weekend’s decider.
Both squads have entered the match with key reinforcements and strong form leading their key players. The Red Force welcome fast bowler Jayden Seales back into the starting squad following a planned rest period; Seales has already claimed 13 wickets across just two matches this tournament, and will line up alongside the championship’s leading pace bowler Anderson Phillip, who has notched 17 wickets so far this season. Red Force captain Joshua Da Silva emphasized that his side will not underestimate their opponents, instead leaning into the consistent team dynamics that have carried them this far. “It is about getting back to the basics and the drawing board by sharpening up a few skills that we may need for the upcoming games, but all in all the team is gelling well,” Da Silva said. “We have a good core here that I think can take us to the final and win it.”
The Pride, meanwhile, come into the playoff with the tournament’s most prolific batting unit: they have recorded more 300-plus team totals than any other side, and lead the tournament with top run-scorer Kevin Wickham, who has amassed 371 runs across four innings at an average of 123.66. The side has made one squad change, bringing in fast bowler Akeem Jordan to replace Jair McAllister, adding extra depth to their new-ball attack. Captain Kraigg Brathwaite says the side’s comeback from their opening defeat has boosted morale, but stressed that the team will not take their opponent lightly, focusing on improved discipline across all departments. “Batting wise we had four innings where we scored above 300 plus, but I think we will still need to make improvements all round, batting, bowling and getting better in the field, because there are always things to work on and we can’t take things for granted because we have to get stronger,” Brathwaite noted.
While the two playoff contenders battle it out for a spot in the final, the already qualified Guyana Harpy Eagles are taking the opportunity to fine-tune their preparations for the title decider with a warm-up fixture against the West Indies Academy at Antigua Recreation Ground this week. The defending champions have been unstoppable so far this tournament, notching three straight wins to sit comfortably atop the group standings, and boast the tournament’s overall leading wicket-taker in spinner Gudakesh Motie, who has claimed 24 wickets to date. The Harpy Eagles have called up Jonathan Van Lange and Thaddeus Lovell to replace injured bowler Isai Thorne, with star fast bowler Shamar Joseph rested for the warm-up. Captain Tevin Imlach says the fixture against the Academy gives his batting unit a critical chance to sharpen their skills ahead of the final. “We have some things to work on to be at our best, we need to be better as a batting group especially our top five, we need to be more consistent and score hundreds,” Imlach said.
Both the playoff fixture and the Harpy Eagles-Academy warm-up are scheduled to get underway at 10 a.m. local Antigua time, which is 9 a.m. Jamaica time. Full squads for all four participating sides are listed below:
– **Trinidad and Tobago Red Force**: Joshua Da Silva (Captain), Yannic Cariah, Bryan Charles, Cephas Cooper, Jyd Goolie, Terrence Hinds, Joshua James, Amir Jangoo, Evin Lewis, Jason Mohammed, Khary Pierre, Anderson Phillip, Jayden Seales
– **Barbados Pride**: Kraigg Brathwaite (Captain), Joshua Bishop, Jediah Blades, Leniko Boucher, Roston Chase, Jonathan Drakes, Akeem Jordan, Johann Layne, Kyle Mayers, Shayne Moseley, Shamar Springer, Jomel Warrican, Kevin Wickham
– **Guyana Harpy Eagles**: Tevin Imlach (Captain), Kevlon Anderson, Tagenarine Chanderpaul, Richie Looknauth, Thaddeus Lovell, Gudakesh Motie, Matthew Nandu, Keemo Paul, Veerasammy Permaul, Zeynul Ramsammy, Kemol Savory, Nial Smith, Jonathan Van Lange
– **West Indies Academy**: Rivaldo Clarke (Captain), Ryan Bandoo, Carlon Bowen-Tuckett, Giovonte Depeiza, Mavendra Dindyal, Nathan Edward, Damel Evelyn, Amari Goodridge, Mbeki Joseph, Zishan Motara, Shaqkere Parris, Jakeem Pollard, Kelvin Pitman, Reneico Smith