On November 5, 2026, Cricket West Indies (CWI) published its official list of centrally contracted players for the 2026-2027 competitive cycle, running from October 1, 2026, through September 30, 2027, spotlighting standout recognition for two athletes hailing from Saint Lucia.
Veteran women’s bowling all-rounder Zaida James secured her fourth consecutive senior women’s retainer contract, a milestone that extends her unbroken run in the CWI senior player pool since she first earned a central contract for the 2023-2024 season. A consistent fixture in the West Indies Women’s national setup, James has built a robust competitive track record across international formats: she has claimed 13 wickets in 21 Women’s One Day Internationals and added 10 more scalps across 24 Women’s T20 Internationals, contributing valuable depth as both a precision bowler and reliable lower-order batter.
Joining James as a celebrated Saint Lucian recipient is rising left-handed batter Ackeem Auguste, who was named one of three Caribbean-based cricketers to receive a coveted men’s development contract, alongside Jewel Andrew and Vitel Lawes. The Gros Islet native has already notched 9 ODI caps and 10 T20I appearances for the West Indies senior men’s side, earning widespread acclaim in October 2025 when he smashed a blistering 25-ball half-century against Bangladesh in Chattogram to seal a full series sweep for his team. His rapidly growing profile also caught the eye of franchise selectors earlier in 2026, when he was picked up by the Pretoria Capitals for R200,000 during the annual SA20 player auction.
CWI Director of Cricket Miles Bascombe emphasized the strategic value of the development contract framework in the official announcement, noting that these placements integrate emerging talent directly into the national team’s support ecosystem to deliver targeted coaching, performance monitoring, and career guidance. “These players are already in active contention for senior team selection,” Bascombe explained. “This contract structure places them in the most optimal environment to refine their skills as they compete for permanent spots across all international formats.”
Across the full 2026-2027 contract cohort, CWI awarded 15 senior men’s retainer spots and 15 senior women’s retainer spots, alongside the three men’s development contracts. Additional notable contracted players include Saint Lucia Kings fast bowler Matthew Forde, Trinidadian wicketkeeper Amir Jangoo, and Guyanese women’s international Mandy Mangru. The full roster of contracted athletes features seasoned leaders across all formats: Roston Chase will continue to serve as the men’s Test captain, Shai Hope will lead the men’s ODI and T20I sides, and Hayley Matthews retains the captaincy of the West Indies Women’s team.
Auguste, James earn West Indies contracts
