West Indies Twenty20 captain, Rovman Powell, has expressed his desire to see international cricket return to Jamaica and has called for discussions between Cricket West Indies (CWI) and the Jamaican government to address the situation.
Sabina Park, a historic venue in Jamaica’s capital, has not hosted an international cricket match for the past 18 months, with the last event being a three-match T20 series against New Zealand. Furthermore, the venue has not staged a Test match in over two and a half years.
Jamaica has also been absent from the Caribbean Premier League (CPL) roster for the past four years, further deepening concerns about the state of cricket in the region. Powell, a Jamaican himself, expressed his concern and desire to play in front of his home crowd during a post-series interview after leading the West Indies to a 3-2 series win over England in Trinidad.
Extended absence of international cricket in Jamaica
Powell emphasized the need for Cricket West Indies and the Jamaican government to engage in meaningful discussions to rectify the situation. He expressed worry about the extended absence of international cricket in Jamaica, considering the significant number of Jamaican players representing the West Indies. Reports suggesting that the CPL team based in Jamaica may be moved have also raised concerns.
Earlier this year, Jamaica’s government decided not to bid for matches in the upcoming Twenty20 World Cup, which will be co-hosted by the United States. Despite its withdrawal, the International Cricket Council announced several host venues, excluding Jamaica. While Jamaica’s government cited a cost-and-benefit analysis as the basis for its decision, Powell finds the absence of international cricket in Jamaica disappointing.
He stressed Jamaica’s status as the largest island in the Caribbean and a proud cricketing nation, making the lack of cricket activities even more disheartening for its cricket enthusiasts. Powell’s call for discussions underscores the desire to revitalize cricket in Jamaica and bring international matches back to Sabina Park.
