Adrian Frater, News Editor

WESTERN BUREAU :

IN A move aimed at reviving cricket in western Jamaica, a group of enterprising St. James-based sports enthusiasts are now fine-tuning plans to stage a major two-week 20/20 tournament, which will be played at nights under floodlights at Jarrett Park.

"Twenty20 cricket is now taking the world by storm," said former national player Jerry Reid, a member of the organising committee which is operating under the banner, Sports Unlimited. "Night cricket would be a novelty in the west and we believe it would excite our fans."

Sports Unlimited - which comprises the likes of Reid, renowned cricket umpire Cecil Fletcher, who is also the president of the Montego Bay Cricket Club, Marlon Tingling, public relations manager at Sandals Montego Bay, and councillor Heroy Clarke of the St. James Parish Council - have been fine-tuning their plans through regular meetings.

Expand the tournament

"Initially, we thought about having a tournament for just business house teams in St. James but as the word got out, we have been getting requests from all over," Clive Waldron, the public liaison officer for Sports Unlimited, said. "It is against that background that we have decided to expand the tournament to cover the entire west."

The tournament, which is slated to start with a grand opening ceremony and opening game on Sunday, June 1, will feature a game every night until the final, which is set for Sunday, June 15.

"We are looking at starting the games at 6:30 p.m. and ending at approximately 10:30 p.m.," said Waldon. "We want to make it an after-work experience for the fans and we are looking at including additional sources of entertainment."

While local fans will be the primary target, Sports Unlimited hopes to attract visitors staying in local hotels for the games, which he believes would add another dimension to their vacations, as well as provide an opportunity for the intermingling of locals and visitors.

"We are now busily out there seeking partners through sponsorship," said Waldon. "We want it to be a real spectacle -coloured clothes, white balls - plus major incentives for the players."