Cricket West Indies (CWI) CEO Chris Dehring has launched a scathing critique of international cricket’s financial structure, arguing that the existing bilateral revenue model—where the host nation retains 100 per cent of earnings—has severely crippled Caribbean cricket.
With the West Indies playing the fifth and final T20I against India in Bengaluru, Dehring pointed out that despite the series generating an estimated $20 million to $30 million in India, CWI receives “nothing.” Tracing the crisis back to a 1997 ICC vote that abolished lucrative touring fees, Dehring stated that CWI was outvoted nine to one, destroying its primary income source.
While India retains revenues from a massive population, small Caribbean islands like Antigua or St. Kitts struggle financially. Former CWI president Dave Cameron echoed similar frustrations, noting that India currently claims over 38 per cent of ICC revenues compared to just 5 per cent for the West Indies.
This persistent financial deficit has forced CWI into pay cuts, short contracts, and a rise in T20 freelancers.
