Matches scheduled for Jamaica’s Sabina Park in the inaugural Caribbean Premier League (CPL) will still be played there despite the collapse of a deal to install floodlights at the venue in time for the tournament.
Tournament officials say they have tweakd the schedule in order to accommodate the Jamaica matches, which will be played over four days in mid-August.
The deal collapsed about three weeks after Jamaica cricket officials announced a partnership to install lights at Sabina Park between Sabina Park Holdings, the entity which manages the venue, and Consolidated Energy Partners, the intended financier and contractor for the project.
“It is unfortunate that Sabina Park was unable to secure its lights in time for the CPL but we have done what we can to ensure that Team Jamaica fans will not miss out on home matches or be excluded from the CPL excitement,” said CPL chief executive officer Damien O’Donohoe.
“Sabina Park is an important ground in the history of West Indies cricket and a popular venue for fans, so we felt it was vital to keep the matches at this ground.”
The Jamaica matches will now take place on August 15 at 2 p.m (Jamaica vs Guyana), August 17 featuring a double-header at 10 a.m (St Lucia vs Trinidad and Tobago) and 2 p.m (Jamaica vs Barbados), and August 18 at 2 p.m (Jamaica vs Trinidad and Tobago).
CPL officials said they were aware of the challenge of drawing large crowds as a result of the new dates and times. But event director Rhonda Kelly said there would be added entertainment. (CMC)
