KINGSTON, Jamaica, CMC – West Indies Twenty20 star Andre Russell has expressed disappointment with Jamaica’s lack of Caribbean Premier League and Twenty20 World Cup matches this 12 months.
The nation will host no CPL video games after Jamaica Tallawahs pulled out, citing an absence 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, who has emerged as one of many international icons of the shortest format.
“A historic floor (Sabina Park), such a correct facility, good batting wicket, good for bowling, after which CPL gained’t be right here; it’s unlucky for the island.
“I can’t specific how upset I’m to know that not even two World Cup video games gained’t be right here. The federal government has to do one thing about this.
He continued: “They should look into sure issues. They will’t help sure sports activities and overlook about cricket.
“We’ve produced among the finest gamers on this planet – Take a look at cricket, T20, and all of that, so I’m very upset in all these items occurring.”
Final month, it was confirmed that Tallawahs – one of many main CPL franchises – wouldn’t characteristic on this 12 months’s event after the house owners bought the entity again to the league.
This got here towards the backdrop of Jamaica failing to stage a single CPL sport since 2019.
“I couldn’t proceed to function a franchise cricket crew in a rustic the place the federal government refuses to offer any monetary help …” the previous Tallawahs proprietor, Kris Persaud, stated final month.
Tallawahs had been subsequently changed within the league by Antigua Hawksbills, a franchise featured within the opening two seasons of the CPL.
There was additionally public outcry final 12 months when it was revealed that Jamaica had not bid for any matches within the T20 World Cup. The federal government stated it had made a accountable choice based mostly on a sound cost-benefit evaluation.
Antigua, Barbados, Guyana, St Lucia, St. Vincent and the Grenadines, and Trinidad & Tobago will all host matches.
Russell stated the shortage of matches within the nation posed a risk to cricket growth.
“If cricket is just not enjoying right here and the publicity is just not occurring, I believe it’s going to be tough,” stated the 35-year-old all-rounder.
“A man would simply need to know that he has to work twice as onerous to get in that system.”
Solely final month, one other Jamaican–West Indies T20 captain, Rovman Powell – urged talks between the Jamaica authorities and Cricket West Indies to deal with the scenario.
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