Chief executive officer of the Caribbean Premier League (CPL) Pete Russell says he doesn't understand why the Jamaican Government hasn't done more to bring the popular T20 tournament back to Sabina Park and invest in the competition on a whole.

The CPL, which completed its 11th season last month, has not been on home soil in four years with the last time being in 2019 when the Jamaica Tallawahs lost to the St Kitts and Nevis Patriots which featured the likes of Jamaican stars Chris Gayle, Andre Russell and Fabian Allen.

However, despite interest from the Tallawahs ownership and the CPL to host games in Jamaica again, they have failed to make a breakthrough with the Government which has left Russell perplexed.

"The discussions with [Sports] Minister [Olivia] Grange have been perfectly amicable, we've had very good discussions, but that's really about it. There's never really been a negotiation, there's never been a reason as to 'this is why we won't invest in CPL'," he told the Jamaica Observer.

Read more at Jamaica Observer

In reply to CaribbeanCricket.com

Hey Mr. Russell, apparently you're not aware of what's been happening in Jamaica in recent times. There has been a big money grab by politicians who have given themselves huge raises of up to 300%. And, Jamaica being the poorest of the cricketing nations of the caribbean, means there is very little left for "luxuries" like cricket. If you notice, the few cricket venues in Jamaica are in ruins. Even the once world-famous Sabina Park is now a half broken-down, chacka chacka, ugly monstrosity. Not to mention the "repurposed" goat pen in Trelawny. Not even the lights these people got from India for Sabina Park they can maintain. And a scoreboard is nonexistent. I'm also sure you know that they couldn't even put in a bid for cricket world cup. So, sir, cricket is about dead in Jamaica. Find another venue for the Tallawahs and remove the name Jamaica.

In reply to CaribbeanCricket.com

Probably this gentleman should read CaribbeanCricket.com notably the article relative to the lack of a bid to host T20 World Cup games in 2024. He would find a multitude of reasons why, they would garner a lack of response from the Government.
Politics aside. These guys are running a franchise and are looking for the Government to subsidize their investment . Yet they baled on the Jamaica fans since 2019. Now they come talking about tourism and the lack of cricket development in Jamaica. The cricket tourism that they are bandying about is a non-starter. Three (3) or four (4) planes landing at Montego Bay from North America in a couple of hours will have brought more tourists at no added cost to the government. No added subsidies required.
Again, everyone keeps harping about the lack of cricket development in Jamaica, yet Cricket West Indies, JCA and CPL have not seen it fit to invest and shore up this lack of development. Put your money where your mouth is. The Jamaican taxpayer, the Ministry of Education and the SDC ate not subsidiaries of any cricket entity be they be JCA, Cricket West Indies or CPL.