THE Jamaica Cricket Association (JCA) is currently weighing the option of staging a Twenty20 (T20) or a 50-overs local club competition, according to board member Dudley Bryan.

Bryan told the Sunday Observer via a telephone interview yesterday that the JCA is eager to have both formats being played, but added that the local cricket body is being seriously hampered by financial constraints.

“As I speak we (the JCA) are putting together plans for either a T20 or 50-overs competition because we realise that we are not playing enough of those two types of cricket. Also, Jamaica haven’t done too well in limited overs cricket recently. We would want to do both (competitions) but I expect it will be one or the other because at the moment the funds will not allow us,” said the JCA director.

Jamaica have dominated the West Indies Cricket Board (WICB) four-day competition in recent times, claiming the last four championships, but conversely have experienced dismal results in both the regional 50-overs and the Caribbean T20 tournaments.

Inexperience and lack of quality preparation of the Jamaican players and coaching staff has largely been identified as reasons for the team’s failure to win the coveted regional Twenty20 title, which provides an automatic berth to the lucrative Champions League tournament.

JCA boss Lyndel Wright, who comfortably defeated former president Paul Campbell during elections in May, has consistently expressed his administration’s aim to sustain an extended club season, with particular emphasis being placed on T20 cricket.

Since then, the cash-strapped JCA, like it did during Campbell’s two and a half year reign, appear to be struggling to successfully engage corporate entities in possible sponsorship deals.

With the regional 50-overs tournament expected to be staged in two months’ time and the Caribbean T20 competition due next year January, Bryan said the association is positioning the cricket club circuit to provide the right preparation for local players.

“We are gearing it so that if the 50-overs club competition is staged it will be just before the regional version. If it’s the T20, then it will be before the Caribbean T20 so that we are fresh heading into whatever competition. We also would want to have as many games as possible.