In the vibrant sporting landscape of the Caribbean, one name bridges the worlds of India and Jamaica with equal ease – Dr Akshai Mansingh.
An orthopaedic surgeon, sports medicine pioneer and the dean of the Faculty of Sport at The University of the West Indies (UWI), Dr Akshai has become an influential figure in Caribbean sports, particularly through his deep-rooted involvement in cricket.
Born in Kingston, Ontario, Canada, and raised in Kingston, Jamaica, Dr Akshai is a second-generation Indian with paternal roots in Fatehpur, Uttar Pradesh, and maternal ties to Jabalpur, Madhya Pradesh.
His family moved to Jamaica in 1973 for what was meant to be a two-year stay. However, that short stint turned into a permanent connection with the island – and eventually, its cricketing heart.
“I was taken straight to Sabina Park to watch Australia play West Indies,” he recalled, during a recent visit to Singapore to attend a family wedding. “I shouted ‘home run’ when Keith Stackpole hit a six. I wasn’t exposed to cricket until then, but from that day, I was hooked.”
As a youth cricketer, Dr Akshai played alongside future West Indies legends like Courtney Walsh and Jimmy Adams.
Though he chose medicine over a professional cricket career, the sport never left him. Instead, he fused both passions and went on to revolutionise sports medicine in the Caribbean.
Initially trained as an orthopaedic surgeon, Dr Akshai saw the need to specialise in sports medicine, pursuing a master’s degree in Australia – a cricket-centric country.
That move proved instrumental. He went on to serve as the chief medical officer (CMO) of Cricket West Indies for nearly two decades and became the first CMO of the Caribbean Premier League (CPL).
Under his guidance, sports medicine evolved from a peripheral service to a strategic pillar of West Indies cricket.
“We created structured medical policies, introduced injury rehabilitation protocols, and even developed digital platforms to track fitness, illness and injuries,” said Dr Akshai. “We brought science and planning into a system that had previously operated on instinct and luck.”
He also represented the region globally, serving on the International Cricket Council’s (ICC) medical committee since its inception in 2008 and continuing to represent the West Indies on the panel.
His influence peaked when he served as the CMO for the 2024 ICC Men’s T20 World Cup, jointly hosted by the United States and West Indies. It was a crowning moment in a career filled with firsts – including establishing anti-doping frameworks and umpire fitness programmes in the region.
A man of many hats, Dr Akshai’s impact extends beyond cricket. Over his 30-year medical career, he has treated world-class athletes, including Usain Bolt and Shelly-Ann Fraser-Pryce.
“I might be the only doctor in the world to have had both Olympic 100m gold medallists on my examination bed within three hours,” he said with a chuckle.
A key advocate for grassroots development, Dr Akshai continues to mentor his students, some of whom have now taken on leadership roles within West Indies cricket’s medical framework. “There’s a succession plan,” he said. “I now report to my own students.”
Dr Akshai’s family reflects his commitment to sports and academia. His son Abhijay is one of the few Indian-origin players in Jamaican cricket and currently plays first-class cricket.
His second son Atishai recently became the commercial officer for Cricket West Indies after a successful stint organising fan engagement initiatives. His wife, Prof Gunjan Mansingh, is a computer science professor and chair of Jamaica’s National ICT Authority.
Dr Akshai’s connection to India remains strong. Though he has never lived in the country, he has visited nearly 50 times, speaks fluent Hindi and frequently travels for both personal and professional engagements.
“People in India often don’t realise I live overseas,” he noted. “I’ve toured India with West Indies and Jamaican teams and was even part of the Commonwealth Games contingent in Delhi.”
His efforts have also helped strengthen India-Caribbean cricket ties. Under his leadership at the Jamaica Cricket Association (where he currently serves as second vice-president), India gifted Sabina Park its first stadium lights and a new digital scoreboard. “Our bilateral ties are growing, and India’s support is invaluable to the future of cricket in Jamaica,” he said.
While West Indies cricket has faced a decline in recent years, Dr Akshai remains optimistic. “Our bowling is strong – we’ve beaten Australia and Pakistan recently. The challenge is rebuilding our batting and reinvesting in first-class cricket.”
He sees India as a strategic partner for development. “Their grassroots system, patience with young talent and long-term vision are things we can learn from.”
