Arnos Vale to host WI cricket for the first time in over a decade

ST JOHN’S, Antigua (CMC):

ARNOS VALE Stadium will host men’s senior international matches for the first time in more than a decade, as part of a busy upcoming home itinerary for West Indies across all three formats.

West Indies will clash with Bangladesh in three Twenty20 Internationals in December, ending an 11-year absence of top-flight international cricket in St Vincent and the Grenadines.

That series will also comprise two Tests – in Antigua and Jamaica – and three One-Day Internationals in St Kitts, and will bring the curtain down on three home tours for 2024.

South Africa kick off the home campaign when they arrive later this month for three pre-World Cup T20 Internationals, before returning in August for two Tests and three T20Is, while England follow in October and November for a white-ball series.

“We are delighted to announce our West Indies men’s home series for the remainder of the year, which will welcome South Africa, England, and Bangladesh to eight of our host countries in the West Indies, including St Vincent & the Grenadines for the first time since 2012,” said Cricket West Indies chief executive, Johnny Grave.

Arnos Vale last hosted a men’s top-flight international fixture when Pakistan toured in the summer of 2013, the visitors winning both T20 Internationals to take the series 2-0.

While matches will also be played in Barbados, Trinidad and Tobago, Guyana and St Lucia, Dominica and Grenada have missed out, and Grave said CWI anticipated hosting matches at the two venues next year.

“While significant improvements were made to the National Stadium in Grenada and Windsor Park in Dominica, we were unable to host International cricket there this year,” Grave explained.

“However, we are already looking forward to returning to both venues in 2025.”

West Indies will warm up for their hosting of the June 1-29 T20 World Cup with the three-match series against the Proteas at Sabina Park from May 23-26, and then welcome them again in an August 7-27 series, following a Test tour of England in July.

Queen’s Park Oval in Port of Spain and the Guyana National Stadium at Providence will stage the two Tests while the Brian Lara Stadium will be the venue for the three-match T20I series.

Following a white-ball tour of Sri Lanka, West Indies will renew rivalries with England in three ODIs and five T20Is across Antigua, Barbados and St Lucia from October 31 to November 17.

Bangladesh will cap off the home campaign in a tour that runs from November 22 to December 19.

“We urge fans to rally behind our men in maroon as we strive for a historic third T20 World Cup title and seek to secure all important points in the ICC World Test Championship,” Grave said.

West Indies, champions in 2012 and 2016, will be looking to turn the page on disastrous outings in the last two editions of the T20 World Cup.