‘The sport needs support’
Golding calls for more investment in Jamaican cricket
Published:Tuesday | March 4, 2025 | 12:08 AMGregory Bryce/Staff Reporter
SPEAKING AT the Cricket Hall of Fame in Connecticut over the weekend, Leader of the Opposition, People’s National Party (PNP) President Mark Golding, has called for more support for the growth of Jamaican cricket.
Golding, a self-described lover of cricket, said Jamaica has been falling behind its Caribbean neighbours in the development of the sport.
He believes more should be done to ensure the country is able to capitalise on the same economic opportunities that have been provided by the sport in the region.
“I, myself, played schoolboy cricket and I am lover of cricket. I can tell you that recent years has not been easy to be a big cricket fan of the West Indies but we have seeing some signs of hope,” the opposition leader quipped.
“The sport needs support and Jamaica is so integral to West Indies cricket, so it cannot be that while other countries are moving ahead and making money and economic benefits from having cricket played there, Jamaica is falling behind,” he continued.
Golding also commented on Jamaica’s absence in the regional Caribbean Premier League (CPL) competition.
The Jamaica Tallawahs, which had represented Jamaica since the competition’s inaugural year in 2013, last played in the competition in 2023.
The franchise’s owner, claiming a lack of support from the Government, had first stopped playing games in the island before folding up the franchise and restarting with the Antigua and Barbuda Falcons.
In their 10-year history, the Tallawahs had won the CPL title three times, in 2013, 2016, and 2022.
Golding said he has been in recent talks with the CPL regarding games being played in Jamaica.
“In fact, I had a recent meeting with the organisers of the CPL about their plans and seeking our support and so on, and I indicated to them that we would be minded to do what is necessary to have CPL played in Jamaica again.”
IN DISCUSSIONS
The Jamaica Cricket Association (JCA) has been in discussions regarding an extension of an Indian Premier League (IPL) franchise representing Jamaica in the CPL.
Should a deal be finalised, it will be the fourth IPL franchise to be involved in the CPL, following the examples set by the Trinbago Knight Riders, owned by the Kolkata Knight Riders; the St Lucia Kings, owned by the Punjab Kings, and the Barbados Royals, who are currently owned by the Rajasthan Royals.
The Cricket Hall of Fame was heartened by Golding’s comments and thanked him for the visit.
“We are delighted to have the opposition leader visit our headquarters and share his vision for cricket in Jamaica,” said Michael Chambers a representative of the Cricket Hall of Fame. “We appreciate his commitment to supporting the sport and look forward to collaborating with him in the future,” said Chambers.
Chambers also extended special thanks to the West Indies Cricket Development Academy Limited, a local Jamaican academy, for their role in facilitating Golding’s visit and their part in cricket’s rebuild in Jamaica.
“Their behind-the-scenes efforts have been invaluable, and we appreciate their dedication to promoting cricket in Jamaica,” said Chambers.