In a major governance change, the terms of the President and Vice-President of regional governing body Cricket West Indies (CWI) will be extended from two years to three years, a move aimed at ensuring continuity and stability in the leadership of the organization.

The extension is one of the key recommendations from the Wehby Report on governance reforms, which was voted on and accepted during a special meeting of shareholders held on Sunday in Port of Spain, Trinidad.

Under the new structure, the next leadership cycle will begin in March 2025 and run until March 2028, allowing for longer terms of office for both positions. The decision reflects a strategic shift to enhance long-term planning and governance within CWI. Additionally, with effect from the upcoming Annual General Meeting (AGM), no president or vice-president will be able to serve more than three consecutive terms in their respective positions, reinforcing a focus on leadership rotation.

The new governance reforms are designed to strengthen the leadership framework and support the long-term development of cricket across the region. These include:

Board and Leadership Structure

• Introduction of term limits for the President and Vice President 
• Extension of the President and Vice President’s term from two to three years.
• The appointment of more female independent directors to the Board to enhance gender representation in decision-making, ensuring a broader range of expertise and perspectives.
• Implementation of a Strategic Governance Committee.
• Reduction in the number and size of committees.
• Increased involvement of independent committee members.
• Implementation of more robust recruitment and selection processes to ensure the most qualified candidates fill key positions within the organization.

Ethical and Compliance Measures

• Centralized the ethics and disciplinary functions to one independently chaired Integrity & Dispute Resolutions Committee. 
• Strengthened financial reporting and disclosure requirements for greater accountability.
• Public release of an annual report consistently for the past four years, ensuring transparency and accessibility of key organizational activities and strategic priorities. 
• Public release of annual audited financial statements, reinforcing financial accountability, demonstrating fiscal responsibility, and building trust among stakeholders. 

Financial Oversight and Risk Management

• Establishment of an Audit, Risk and Compliance Committee to enhance financial oversight and transparency.
• Employment of an Audit, Risk & Compliance Manager/Chief Audit Executive.
• Restructuring of the CWI Finance Department.
• Implementation of recommendation of a Business Situation Assessment & Financial Review

Gender Equality and Women’s Cricket Development

• Introduction of business-class travel for the West Indies Senior Women’s team for all long-haul international flights.
• Single-room accommodations for the West Indies Senior Women’s team on all international assignments, aligning with the men’s policy.
• Establishment of the Women’s Cricket Transformation Committee to develop strategies for increasing female participation and strengthening the women’s game.
• Greater investment in the High-Performance pathway for women’s cricket, including the launch of a West Indies Women’s Academy programme.

The 26th Annual General Meeting of Cricket West Indies is scheduled for March 29, with the location yet to be determined. During this meeting, elections will be held for the positions of President and Vice-President. The current incumbents are Dr. Kishore Shallow, who serves as President, and Azim Bassarath, the Vice-President.

Nominations for these positions have already opened and will close on the evening of February 26. It remains unclear whether Shallow and Bassarath will seek re-election, or if other candidates will emerge to challenge them for the leadership roles.