JCA wins case against cricket clubs

The Jamaica Cricket Association (JCA) has scored a major victory in the Supreme Court against St Catherine Cricket Club and Melbourne.



Supreme Court Judge Ingrid Mangatal ruled yesterday that rule one of the JCA’s handbook, which sets out the penalties for breaches by clubs or parishes, was discretionary and not mandatory as the clubs claimed.



The Club had sought declarations from the Supreme Court, that the rule dealing with loss of points for breaches committed by clubs or parishes was mandatory.



The disagreement between the parties stemmed from the JCA’s decision to fine the Manchester Cricket Association instead of taking away points because it had an ineligible player in the Jamaica Super Cricket League competition last year.



Manchester were declared the winner of the Super Cricket League competition and the two cricket clubs challenged the JCA’s decision not to deduct points from the club.



St Catherine and Melbourne which were represented by attorneys-at-law Roderick Gordon and Chandice Castillo claimed that the section dealing with loss of points was mandatory, while the section dealing with the fine was discretionary.



The judge also ruled that the clubs had no right of appeal.