Switch likely for SA matches

Jermaine Lannaman, Gleaner Writer

It now appears certain that the Jamaican leg of the 2010 West Indies versus South Africa Digicel Home Series will be rescheduled.

Information reaching The Gleaner is that the Jamaica Cricket Association (JCA) was expected to make a recommendation to the West Indies Cricket Board (WICB) last night to transfer Jamaica's three scheduled matches to another country in the region.

The recommendation comes as a result of the ongoing civil unrest in the capital, Kingston.

The matches were slated to be played at Sabina Park in Kingston and Chedwin Park in St Catherine.

"It doesn't look possible that we will be able to host the matches. There are too many uncertainties and we would not want to put the safety of the players or officials in jeopardy," said a highly placed JCA source.

biggest market

Jamaica, which represents the biggest market for the West Indies' team and series sponsors, Digicel, was scheduled to host the series' fifth and final one-dayer and the first Test at Sabina Park, as well as a two-day warm-up match featuring Jamaica and South Africa at Chedwin Park, slated for Sunday, June 6.

JCA president Paul Campbell says an official release will be issued to the media today, following a final meeting between WICB officials via teleconferencing last night.

"We haven't decided as yet. We should have had a meeting earlier today (yesterday), but had to push it back due to persons travelling," said Campbell, who is also a WICB director.

"We should, therefore, be able to state the exact position by tonight (last night) and definitely by tomorrow (today)."

In the meantime, according to a report published yesterday on regional news network, cananews.net, St Lucia is likely to host the matches at its Beasejour Cricket Stadium, with Trinidad and Tobago (T&T) also in the runnings.

other candidate

Campbell also listed Barbados as a candidate.

"With the situation as it is in Jamaica, the directors are already dealing with it and they have come up with Trinidad and Tobago and St Lucia as possible countries to host the matches," the cananews.net release said, quoting a WICB source.

"However, as it looks now, the matches may go to St Lucia because they are concerned about the weather situation in T&T these days with the heavy rain."

The Gleaner understands that Barbados, which is slated to host the third and final Test late next month, is also under consideration for at least one of the matches.

The Barbados proposal is that they would host the first Test and allow Jamaica to host the third Test, which begins on June 26, providing that the security situation improves.

"There are more than one options on the table and we will be exploring all," Campbell said.