Sexual Harrasment racket busted in West Indies Women's Cricket Team; CWI swings into action

Two of the prominent cricket bodies in the West Indies, Cricket West Indies (CWI) and West Indies Players Association (WIPA) are set to assess the safety protocols and harassment claims that are tarnishing the image of the sport in the Caribbean Islands.

The allegations regarding sexual harassment were made during the team's campaign in the Women's T20 World Cup in 2020 which was held in Australia. As a result, the country's cricket bodies have decided to take action.

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CWI, WIPA to assess harassment claims in West Indies cricket

In a joint statement, CWI and WIPA vowed to review all the aspects of a player's safety and welfare to protect its standards. The two boards aim to take a bold step towards the safety of women in the cricket team.

"WIPA and CWI will come together to review all aspects of player protection within West Indies cricket. This joint effort reflects our commitment to upholding the highest standards of player welfare and ensuring that all safeguards remain robust and effective," the two bodies stated in a joint statement.

Both the organisations claim to have taken some bold steps to ensure the safety of players Some new safety measures were introduced for women's tours in 2021 and a provision was kept to ensure a single-room accommodation for the senior women's side on their international tours from the year 2023.

These are some of the initiatives taken within the Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) from October 1, 2023 to September 30, 2027. The current assessment includes reviewing these particular measures as well.

CWI adheres to UNICEF

The WIPA and CWI remain fully committed to player safety and want to promote a culture of respect within their teams. The board also adheres to UNICEF's Children Protection Policy to uphold its high standards.

"Furthermore, we have implemented and strictly adhered to Unicef’s Children Protection Policy, ensuring that minors never share rooms with adults under any circumstance. Additionally, we have mandated ongoing training for all officials to reinforce and uphold these standards.

"There will be continuous evaluation of all aspects of policy to ensure every player deserves to feel safe, valued, and fully focused on their career. Through this upcoming review, we will continue working to strengthen safeguards and reinforce our unwavering support for all athletes," the statement added.

West Indies' disappointing T20 World Cup 2020

Windies didn't have a great tournament in 2021 as they failed to secure a semi-final berth after finishing third in Group B behind South Africa and England. The Windies finished with 1 win and 2 defeats in the group stage.

Meanwhile, Australia went on to clinch the title on their home soil. They defeated India convincingly in the final to start a new chapter of dominance in women's cricket.

West Indies will play a Women's World Cup Qualifier from next month. The tournament is scheduled to be held in Pakistan. The top two teams of the qualifying tournament will qualify for the ODI World Cup to be held in India in October 2025.