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GUYANA-TIMES.COM
thurSDAY, APRIL 7, 2016
Tallawahs boss says CPL making big impact on Jamaican economy
M
anish Patel, partowner of the Jamaica Tallawahs franchise, believes the Hero Caribbean Premier League (CPL) Twenty20 Tournament has made tremendous strides towards boosting the Caribbean’s economy and Jamaica’s in particular. Patel, who was in the island along with CPL’s CEO Damien O’Donohoe and other key partners, to meet with sponsors and government officials, revealed that last year’s staging alone contributed $8 million to the Jamaican economy. He explained that the figure was accumulated from the four home games contested by the Jamaica
Tallawahs at Sabina Park. “In terms of direct investment, I think last year I believe the number was US$8 million, so if you look at the direct impact I think it was pretty significant. For four home games that is a huge impact, just the hotel finances, also for the stadium folks, and those in direct and indirect jobs with the CPL,” he told the Jamaica Observer in an interview at Sabina Park recently. “So it has been a pretty big impact to the Jamaican economy and so right now I think it is important to get everyone aligned on how we work together,” he added. Patel explained that since the tournament’s inception in 2013, the invest-
ments by franchise owners and a number of commercial partners and sponsors have been very strategic and beneficial to all parties involved. A Wikipedia search revealed that as of December 30, 2015, the Caribbean Premier League’s salary cap was US$780,000. The tournament includes six franchises with 15 contracted players each, including a maximum of five international players and four players under the age of 23. Each team has one local and one international franchise player. “Cricket is our passion as well and we fell in love with Jamaica, and it was obvious the passion that we have brought to the game with
our family over the last two years. But it is also important at the same time that you get a partnership, because you have made a financial commitment to the Jamaica franchise. “It is also important that you get a similar support from the Government and also from JCA (Jamaica Cricket Association) and all the other key authorities that are involved. You can’t have one entity continue to invest and not get anything in return, so I think it is important that there is a threeway partnership with the JCA, the Government and us," Patel said. As it relates to those partnerships, Patel pointed out that slight progress has
been made in the negotiations, and he and his team will be making frequent trips to Jamaica leading up to the tournament. He added that they remain optimistic about seeing an even bigger impact from this year’s staging of the tournament which will be contested July-August. “This is a great product for the fans and for the local economy. I think there has been a huge direct impact on the local economy of millions of dollars for the Jamaican economy. So I think it is important that now that the data has been presented, that the partnership will come from the other side,” Patel reasoned. “It is going good so far. It
has been really positive (as) we have met with the sports tourism and other key government members, and we are very optimistic that we have done a pretty good job in terms of the CPL product over the past three years. So I think the impact has been positive from an economic standpoint and I think those are right indicators for us to partner with government folks,” he ended. Reigning champions Trinbago Knight Riders will seek to defend their title against former champions Barbados Trident and Jamaica Tallawahs, Guyana Amazon Warriors, St Kitts and Nevis Patriots and St Lucia Zouks. (Jamaica Observer)
“Xercise” programme building players off-field Renaming of St Lucia Stadium…
“X
ercise”, a sport development programme, held an interactive session on Wednesday at Ministry of Education, Department of Youth Culture and Sports Boardroom on Main Street with several students from schools across Georgetown. Director/Founder of the programme Royston Alkins explained that “Xercise” is a sport development initiative that would have started out of immense passion for sport and youth development and more so off-field because we don’t have technical expertise in terms of the coaching and the other intricacies so we focus on stuff in terms of getting athletes to speak better.” He added, “It’s to get them speak better in front of camera, what not to say and what to say, and also get the likes of Christopher Barnwell, Keemo Paul and the other stars to engage in volunteerism, which will build their capacity as nationals and help them to foster a more love for country.” The programme was held to coincide with the United Nations’ (UN) Day of Sports
CPL-bound Australia stars congratulate Sammy
A
Royston Alkins
for the Development of Peace, which was observed on Wednesday. Moving forward, the exercise will see a fusion with the various sport federations to do similar projects, as in Guyana everything regarding sport is mostly done on the field and there is no workshops or similar programmes that could build athletes off the field. President of the Georgetown Cricket Association (GCA), Roger Harper, who was in attendance, said, “Events
like this and the organisations help to develop rounded sportsmen; so it means the sportsmen will be better prepared when they get an opportunity to represent their country.” Sessions of this nature were previously done at the Demerara Cricket Club (DCC), St Roses High and Queens College. The programme is in collaboration with the international organisation, One Young World, who currently have a Windies revival programme ongoing.
ECCC/SPR Enterprise 40-over cricket…
Seemangal (7-35) spins ECCCC into semi-finals
C
h a n d r a b a n Seemangal was outstanding with bat and ball to make sure Enmore Community Centre Cricket Club (ECCCC) maintain their unbeaten run in the East Coast Cricket Committee (ECCC)/SPR Enterprise 40-over cricket competition and book a spot in the semi-finals. Seemangal’s heroic secured a comfortable 40-run victory for his team against Enterprise B last weekend. Batting first, ECCCC scored 180 in a 35-over affair. Rudolph Singh top scored with 54, Imran Hassan 29 and Seemangal 23, as S. Ramkumar took 4-17 for Enterprise B. In reply, Enterprise B were bowled out for 140 in 29 overs with Mohabir scoring 36. Off-spinner
Chandraban Seemangal
Seemangal ran through the batting line-up to finish with figures of 7-35 from his seven overs. Prior to that game ECCCC had crushed Golden Achievers by 10 wickets at Enmore. Batting first, Golden Achievers were skittled out for an embarrass-
ing 36 runs in eight overs. Nandram Ganesh and Imran Hassan took 3-10 and 2-14 respectively. ECCCC scored the required runs in 4.3 overs without losing any wicket. ECCCC play the runnerup from Group Two shortly.
ustralia’s Zouksbound duo for this year’s HERO Caribbean Premier League (CPL), Michael Hussey and Shane Watson, have sent messages of congratulations to West Indies team captain Darren Sammy following the announcement that the Beausejour Cricket Ground in St Lucia will be renamed as the Darren Sammy National Cricket Stadium. Michael Hussey, who averaged 37.94 in 38 T20 internationals for Australia
Darren Sammy has won two World T20 titles as captain
sionate the West Indies public are, but to receive this news about the St Lucia government’s decision to re-name the national stadium in honour of one of their favourite sporting sons is a huge thing, especially for someone so young who has so much top level cricket ahead of him. “Darren is a great leader and a true champion in all regards, and I know how passionate he is about the Zouks. He deserves this accolade for the manner he has led the West Indies team Michael Hussey
and who is one of the most respected and charismatic leaders in world cricket, said: “To win a world title for your country is the ultimate accolade and I would like to offer my congratulations to fellow Zouks man Darren Sammy, coach Phil Simmons and the West Indies team on their win last weekend in the ICC World T20. “With the government now marking this historic achievement with the renaming of the Beausejour Cricket Ground, it indicates once more to the world the high love and esteem that the West Indies has for their local heroes. Congrats to Darren on this incredible accolade in his home nation. “It is clear to see that West Indies cricket is on the ascendency, after the performances of the Under-19’s and Women’s teams, and they are to be commended for their performances over
Shane Watson
the last few weeks. I just can’t wait to be a part of the action this summer with the Zouks. It promises to be the biggest and best CPL yet!” Shane Watson, who was named in the ICC T20 Team of the Tournament and retired from the international arena as the number one allrounder in the T20 rankings after a string of outstanding displays for Australia, added: “I knew when I first signed up for CPL how pas-
and this is an honour for all time. It really excites me about being a part of CPL 2016 and I can’t wait to step out on the Darren Sammy National Cricket Stadium this summer.” Meanwhile, tickets for the confirmed CPL 2016 fixtures in Central Broward Stadium, Fort Lauderdale, and St Kitts and Nevis will go on sale this Friday on www.cplt20.com