Kensington Oval in Barbados is expected to host international cricket again later this year, ending months of public disagreement over the venue’s absence from the 2026 regional schedule.
A news troy carried in the Barbados Today News online said that the historic ground is now in line to stage two One Day Internationals during New Zealand’s tour of the Caribbean in July. The matches are reportedly pencilled in for July 18 and July 21, with final approval from Cricket West Indies (CWI) and the governments of Barbados and Guyana expected shortly.
The development marks a significant reversal after Kensington Oval often referred to as “The Mecca” of Caribbean cricket was initially left off the list of venues for international and regional fixtures in 2026.
The omission sparked widespread debate in Barbados, with questions raised about the future role of the island in regional cricket. The controversy drew responses from several senior figures, including Barbados Prime Minister Mia Mottley, Minister of Sport Charles Griffith, Cricket West Indies President Kishore Shallow and Barbados Cricket Association President Calvin Hope.
At the centre of the dispute were concerns over operational costs, scheduling and the allocation of matches across the region. Earlier plans had seen all five ODIs in the New Zealand series assigned to the Providence Stadium in Guyana.
However, sources now indicate that Barbados and Guyana are in advanced discussions to share hosting responsibilities and associated expenses, paving the way for Kensington Oval’s return to the international calendar.
The debate over the stadium’s exclusion became politically charged in recent months, with critics arguing that Barbados one of the Caribbean’s traditional cricket strongholds should not have been overlooked.
Kensington Oval has long been regarded as one of the region’s premier cricket venues. Originally established in 1882, the ground underwent major redevelopment ahead of the 2007 ICC Cricket World Cup and has hosted numerous landmark international matches, including World Cup finals and regional championships.
While no formal announcement has yet been made, officials are expected to confirm the revised arrangements in the coming days, effectively ending a dispute that has dominated cricket discussions in Barbados for much of the year.
Source: Barbados Today