West Indies Andre Russell bowls throughout a follow session in Gros Islet, St. Lucia.
Related Press / Andres Leighton, file
West Indies Twenty20 star Andre Russell has expressed disappointment with the dearth of Caribbean Premier League and Twenty20 World Cup matches in Jamaica this 12 months.
The nation will host no CPL video games after Jamaica Tallawahs pulled out of the competitors attributable to a scarcity of presidency help, whereas Jamaica was not amongst Caribbean nations bidding to host matches within the June 1-29 ICC showpiece.
Russell stated a proud cricketing nation like Jamaica possessed all the weather required for attracting worldwide cricket.
“With no cricket enjoying in Jamaica, it’s simply unhappy,” stated Jamaican Russell.
“An historic floor (Sabina Park), such a correct facility, good batting wicket, good for bowling after which CPL received’t be right here, I simply assume it’s very unhappy for the island.
“I can’t specific how disenchanted I’m to know that not even two World Cup video games received’t be right here. I believe the federal government has to do one thing about this,” stated Russell.
He added: “They should look into sure issues. They will’t help sure sports activities and simply neglect about cricket.
“We’ve produced a few of the finest gamers on this planet — Take a look at cricket, T20 and all of that, so I’m very disenchanted in all these items which can be taking place.”
It was confirmed lately that Tallawahs, one of many main CPL franchises wouldn’t function on this 12 months’s match, after the house owners bought the entity again to the league. They have been changed by Antigua Hawksbills within the league, a franchise that featured within the opening two seasons of the CPL.
There was additionally public outcry final 12 months when Jamaica had not bid for any T20 World Cup matches, with the federal government saying it had made a accountable resolution based mostly on a sound cost-benefit evaluation.
Russell stated the dearth of matches within the nation posed a menace to cricket growth.
“If cricket is just not enjoying right here and the publicity is just not taking place I believe it’s going to be troublesome,” stated the 35-year-old all-rounder.
Final month, West Indies T20 Cарtain Rovman Powell urged talks between the Jamaica authorities and Cricket West Indies in an effort to have the state of affairs addressed.
