St Lucia to host rescheduled matches

St. Lucia have emerged as the frontrunner ahead of Trinidad and Tobago to host the matches between West Indies and South Africa almost certain to be relocated from the violence-torn Jamaica capital of Kingston.



West Indies Cricket Board (WICB) officials are currently mulling over whether to relocate the final One-Day International and the first Test between West Indies and South Africa to Queen’s Park Oval in Trinidad, or the Beausejour Cricket Ground in St. Lucia.



A source with knowledge of the ongoing WICB discussions said St. Lucia was the heavy favourite because officials were concerned about the weather situation in Trinidad and Tobago, with the seasonal heavy rains pounding the country in recent weeks.



Sabina Park, located in central Kingston, is scheduled to host the fifth One Day International between West Indies and South Africa on June 3 and the opening Test of the three-match series from June 10 to 14.



The third and fourth One-Day will take place in Dominica this weekend.



The violence forced the Bruce Golding Government to declare a state of emergency in the Corporate Area of Kingston.



If the matches are switched, it will be the second time that the WICB would have been forced to do so in the series.



The two 20/20 Internationals and the first two One-Day Internationals between the two sides were moved to Antigua, following the announcement of a snap general election, which took place in T&T on Monday.