On December 10, CWI announced the list of 14 men and 15 women who were awarded central contracts, including six first-timers: Keacy Carty, Gudakesh Motie, Tagenarine Chanderpaul, Alick Athanaze, Zaida James and Shenata Grimmond.

Absent from the list are Kyle Mayers, Jason Holder and Nicholas Pooran, three of West Indies’ most in-demand players in the franchise circuit. The CWI clarified that they had declined contracts, but will remain available for selection for all T20Is in 2024, which includes a T20 World Cup co-hosted by the West Indies. All three missed West Indies’ 2-1 ODI series win against England due to commitments in the Abu Dhabi T10 League, but will play in the T20I series against the same opponents, which starts on December 12.

The release made no mention of their availability or otherwise in ODI or Test cricket.

“With a busy year of cricket ahead, in all three formats, we have held several detailed discussions with the two head coaches on the brand of cricket they want to play,” said West Indies’ Men’s selector Desmond Haynes. “We are very clear in the direction we want to go.

“The players who have been offered contracts are among those who we expect to feature, as we look to build towards challenging for the top spot when we host and compete in the ICC Men’s T20 World Cup 2024 on home soil. We also have away Test series in Australia and England – these are two major assignments whilst in the 50-over format we look to build a nucleus of players aimed towards the ICC Men’s Cricket World Cup 2027.”

“The selectors have identified a cadre of players who we believe can drive West Indies cricket forward,” said Ann Browne-John, West Indies Women’s selector. “We have emphasised the development of the younger players, which we view as pivotal in the pathway to the international level. We have several high-profile bilateral series and major global events on the horizon and with this in mind, we want to have our players prepared and ready for every occasion.”

West Indies’ men’s contracted players in 2023/24: Alick Athanaze, Kraigg Brathwaite, Keacy Carty, Tagenarine Chanderpaul, Alzarri Joseph, Rovman Powell, Gudakesh Motie, Shai Hope, Joshua Da Silva, Akeal Hosein, Brandon King, Kemar Roach, Jayden Seales, Romario Shepherd.

West Indies’ women’s contracted players in 2023/24: Aaliyah Alleyne, Shemaine Campbell, Shamilia Connell, Afy Fletcher, Cherry-Ann Fraser, Hayley Matthews, Stafanie Taylor, Rashada Williams, Shabika Gajnabi, Jannillea Glasgow, Sheneta Grimmond, Chinelle Henry, Zaida James, Mandy Mangru, Karishma Ramharack.