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Jamaica to Antigua and Barbuda.

Grange pointed out that the ministry provided special support to the Tallawahs at the level that funds would permit, as they forwarded cash, and paid for coordinated services across the Government of Jamaica to facilitate the franchise.

She added that the ministry’s Sports Division and the Sports Development Foundation provided direct cash payments of J$13 million to Jamaica Tallawahs, including the purchase of tickets for matches, between 2015 and 2019.

Click to read: Franchise cannot be sustained in Jamaica

The minister said the government incurred significant direct costs as it worked to facilitate the Tallawahs, as she revealed that the Sports Development Foundation undertook the cost for the importation of goods and equipment needed for use during cricket matches.

Additionally, Grange argued that her ministry also undertook the cost for various licenses and fees including for television broadcasts, as well as, negotiated with the Jamaica Urban Transit Company to provide transport service to the Tallawahs, and with the Jamaica Tourist Board to market the team.

Grange stated that she also successfully participated in discussions with private sector companies about sponsorship for the team.

“We did our best to give support to the Tallawahs. The Tallawahs bear our country’s name, but are not a national team, and are therefore not covered in the yearly allocations to the Jamaica Cricket Association. However, we have sought to provide special support to the Tallawahs at the level that our funds will permit,” the minister said in her statement.

Jamaica Tallawahs won the tournament in Guyana in 2022 (Photo: CPL via Getty Images)

Grange explained that it was difficult for the Government to go beyond its reach, citing that the Sports Development Foundation provided J$263 million in grants to all national sports federations in 2023.

“It is estimated that the Tallawahs require US$1 million each year—or more than J$150 million; but in order to give them more, we would have to cut funding to the more than 40 National Sports Federations, such as football, netball, track and field, who depend on government to run their programmes and have been requesting additional sums — which we are challenged to provide,” she noted.

On another note, Grange attended the handing over ceremony of 90 cricket kits from the Government of India to the Jamaica Cricket Association.

The handing over ceremony took place at the High Commission of India and represented the remainder of the 100 cricket kits promised to Jamaica by the former Indian President, His Excellency Ram Nath Kovind, during his visit to the island in 2022. The President had presented 10 kits during that initial visit.

Grange expressed gratitude to the High Commissioner, His Excellency Masakui Rungsung, and the Indian government for the gear “which will benefit young cricketers across the country.”

“This is one of the initiatives on which the High Commissioner and I have been working together as representatives of our respective governments in the interest of cricket. We are also discussing a major project, about which I believe we will soon be in a position to update our respective stakeholders about,” Grange said.

Finally, she challenged the notion that the government was anti-cricket, pointing out that the Jamaica Cricket Association receives more funding each year from the Sports Development Foundation than all other national federations except football and track and field.

This defence also came, as the government was also criticisied for missing out on a bid to host games during the ICC Twenty20 World Cup to be hosted in the Caribbean and United States later this year. Jamaica and West Indies captain Rovman Powell and all-rounder Andre Russell recently expressed concern about the development and, by extension, the lack of international cricket being played locally. (Sportsmax)

David Warner walks out to bat for the final time in Test cricket (Photo: Getty Images)

‘He’s going to be hard to replace’

Warner ends his career as Australia’s most prolific opener, and the fourth-most successful opener of all-time in terms of runs scored, behind England’s Sir Alastair Cook, India’s Sunil Gavaskar and South Africa’s Graeme Smith.

Warner played 161 one-day internationals and also announced his retirement from that format during this series, but will continue to play T20s.

But his successful career has also been intertwined with controversy.

In 2018, he was Australia’s vice-captain and was banned from playing all forms of international cricket for a year over his involvement in the ‘sandpaper-gate’ ball-tampering scandal.

He was also permanently banned from holding a leadership position in Australian cricket teams.

Warner returned from his ban in 2019 and re-established himself as one of the world’s best openers, which leaves Australia with the difficult task of finding his replacement.

“It’s going to be hard to replace him,” said Cummins. “He’s basically played every game for the last dozen years.

“He’s a huge personality, he really sets the game up with the way he plays every time he walks out.

“He’s going to be huge to replace. We’ll enjoy him for the next day or so while we’ve still got him around.” (BBC Sport)

 

contract signing event for the new US$35 million Mackenzie/ Wismar Bridge in Region 10 (Upper Demerara- Berbice), said the company was formed on Thursday.

Through this company, the ferry system is expected to transport passengers and cargo among Guyana, Trinidad and Tobago and Barbados.

“That will open up massive opportunities,” he said.

Subsequently, Dr. Ali told the News Room that the three governments are still discussing the venture.

“We have to get this going and then we have to work on expanding,” the Head of State said.

Solving intra-regional transportation woes has been a huge focus on the Caribbean Community (CARICOM) for years now. With the current revitalised focus on guaranteeing the region’s food security, solving this problem is also in focus.

Last year, the Caribbean Development Bank (CDB) announced it would finance the consultancy services for a study on the options available to establish a new shipping service across Barbados, Grenada, Guyana, and Trinidad and Tobago.

In October, when the AfriCaribbean Trade and Investment Forum was hosted in Guyana, President Ali said the African Export Import (Afrexim) Bank is keen on supporting a Caribbean private sector proposal for an intra-regional system that could allow the cheaper transportation of goods and people via the sea. As such, he encouraged regional private sector players to form a consortia and get the project going.

he was nabbed at a roadblock at Mango Landing in Region Eight. He was found to be in possession of 21.4 grams of marijuana.

Lestroy Archibald

clubbed his wife to death on Old Year’s day, was charged on Thursday with the indictable offence of murder.

Amanda Persaud, the Parika, East Bank Essequibo woman killed by Lalaram, was beaten with a piece of wood he picked up from the road on December 31, 2023.

Lalaram made his appearance at the Leonora Magistrate’s Court before Magistrate Zamilla Ally-Seepaul.

He was not required to plea to the charge when it was read to him and was remanded to prison. The matter was adjourned to February 02, 2024.

A video recording of the incident was shared with Police, revealing the horrific details.

Police headquarters said that Lallaram, a 39-year-old mason of Parika Façade, was on an electric scooter when he approached Persaud, 25.

The two got into a heated argument and the man came off of the scooter, picked up a piece of wood from the roadside and lashed the victim to her head, causing her to fall to the ground.

He then allegedly stood over her and lashed her to the face multiple times with the wood, leaving her in a bloodied state.

The entire ordeal was recorded by a resident in the area. The suspect dropped the wood and made good his escape on the scooter, but he stopped a short distance away and hid in a clump of bushes.

The Police were immediately summoned by residents. The man’s hideout was made known and he was arrested and taken to the Parika Police Station. The piece of wood was also collected by Police.

 

See below press release issued by Cricket West Indies

The fixtures for the ninth edition of the ICC Men’s T20 World Cup have been revealed with the event to be co-hosted by the West Indies and the USA from June 1-29, 2024.

The pinnacle ICC Men’s T20 event will see a record 20 teams divided into four groups competing across 55 games for the right to be crowned ICC Men’s T20 World Cup Champions 2024, including co-hosts the West Indies and the USA, together with the other qualifiers: Afghanistan, Australia, Bangladesh, Canada, England, India, Ireland, Namibia, Nepal, the Netherlands, New Zealand, Oman, Pakistan, Papua New Guinea (PNG), Scotland, South Africa, Sri Lanka and Uganda.

The 20 teams have been divided into four groups of five, with the top two teams progressing to the Super Eights:

Group A: India, Pakistan, Ireland, Canada and the USA

Group B: England, Australia, Namibia, Scotland and Oman

Group C: New Zealand, West Indies, Afghanistan, Uganda and Papua New Guinea

Group D: South Africa, Sri Lanka, Bangladesh, the Netherlands and Nepal

The event commences with the two co-hosts starting their campaigns on the first two days of June.

The USA will take on Canada in the tournament opener at the Grand Prairie Cricket Stadium in Dallas on Saturday June 1, while the West Indies will kickstart their campaign against Papua New Guinea at the Guyana National Stadium on Sunday June 2.

One of cricket’s biggest rivalries will take place in one of the world’s most iconic cities, with New York to host India and Pakistan on Sunday, June 9.

The fixture will be played in a cutting-edge 34,000-seat modular stadium just 30 miles east of downtown Manhattan in Nassau County, New York. Eight matches will be played at the venue.

Defending champions England will begin their title defence on Tuesday June 4 in Barbados against Scotland and 2022 finalists, Pakistan, will get their challenge going on Thursday June 6, when they play the USA in Dallas.

Among the plethora of blockbuster match-ups scheduled in the group stage, fans can look forward to Sri Lanka taking on South Africa in New York on Monday June 3, while England will go up against archrivals Australia in Barbados on Saturday June 8.

Another highly anticipated fixture will see the West Indies taking on New Zealand on Wednesday June 12 at the Brian Lara Cricket Academy in Trinidad and Tobago.

First-time Qualifiers Uganda will play their first-ever ICC Men’s T20 World Cup fixture in Guyana against Afghanistan on Monday, June 3. Nepal, who qualified for the T20 World Cup for the first time since 2014, will open their campaign against Sri Lanka in one of four matches to be played at Broward County Stadium in Lauderhill, Florida.

Upon completion of the group stage, the top two teams from each of the four groups will move into the Super Eight stage of the competition. Teams seeded first and second in their groups in the first round will retain that seeding in the Super Eight, provided they qualify.

Super Eight matches are scheduled to be played in popular Caribbean tourist destinations Antigua and Barbuda, Barbados, St. Lucia and St. Vincent and the Grenadines.

The two top teams from each group in the Super Eight will progress to the semi-finals, which will be held in Guyana and Trinidad and Tobago on Wednesday June 26 and Thursday June 27 respectively.

The final will be held at the Kensington Oval in Barbados on Saturday June 29.

Public tickets will go on sale via a ballot and fans can register their interest now here. Registering now will ensure fans receive ticket news first to help secure their seat at the World Cup.

Outside of the ballot, fans can guarantee match tickets through the official travel programme, ICC Travel & Tours, where fans will be able to purchase official ticket-inclusive travel packages.

ICC Chief Executive, Geoff Allardice said:

“The ICC Men’s T20 World Cup 2024 marks an exciting expansion of our sport with more teams than ever before set to compete in this event. It’s going to be an incredible spectacle bringing together 20 international teams from Africa, the Americas, Asia, East-Asia Pacific and Europe. “The release of the fixtures is made even more exciting for fans as we enter a new frontier, with the USA hosting a major ICC event for the first time. With 16 matches being played across three venues in the USA, it allows us to make a statement in the world’s biggest sports market. “It will also be great to have an ICC event back in the West Indies, which has such a rich history of the game. It has hosted World Cups with great success in the past and this tournament will certainly provide a boost to the game there, especially with the final being played in Barbados.”

CWI Chief Executive Johnny Grave said:

“The announcement of the match schedule for the ICC Men’s T20 World Cup 2024 marks a significant milestone in our preparations for this year’s tournament.  We know that teams, fans and cricket enthusiasts worldwide have been eagerly awaiting this announcement, and now that it is available, it provides a roadmap for the thrilling journey that lies ahead. “In addition to the match fixtures, the announcement also highlights the host countries and iconic venues that will set the stage for the ICC Men’s T20 World Cup. Each host country and city will bring its own unique flavour to the tournament, and fans from every corner of the globe can expect an exciting blend of T20 cricketing entertainment, local culture and warm hospitality. “From classic rivalries to history making upsets and continental showdowns, fans can start looking forward to an action-packed month of games at the ICC Men’s T20 World Cup next June, and we encourage everyone to get tickets as soon as they go on sale as we expect the demand to be high.”

The Chair of T20 World Cup Incorporated, the entity established in the USA to deliver the event, Peter Hutton said:

“The USA is already one of cricket’s biggest audiences for ICC events and bringing the ICC Men’s T20 World Cup to New York City, Dallas and Florida is a massive opportunity to exponentially grow the sport. We’ve got three fantastic venues to host matches and we strongly encourage fans in the USA and around the world to start planning to secure their tickets for what will be a unique cricket spectacle featuring the best players in the world.”

Vijay Srinivasan, co-Founder, Major League Cricket said:

“Major League Cricket is delighted to host the marquee opening match for the biggest-ever ICC Men’s T20 World Cup at the premier MLC venue, Grand Prairie Cricket Stadium in North Texas. “We know that cricket fans from across the country will be out in force on June 1 as the United States hosts Canada in the curtain-raiser for the tournament. The match will mark a new chapter in a rivalry dating back longer than any other in international cricket, all the way to 1844. “In addition, we can’t wait to welcome fans from Pakistan, the Netherlands, Nepal, Sri Lanka and Bangladesh to the Lone Star State for a further three matches at Grand Prairie Cricket Stadium where many of the stars of Major League Cricket will be playing for their countries.”