FRESH from the high of seeing near capacity turnouts for three days of matches in the Caribbean Premier League (CPL) held at Sabina Park, the Jamaica Cricket Association (JCA) has retained sponsorship for two of the island’s premier Twenty20 (T20) competitions.

The Jamaica Tourist Board, through the Tourism Enhancement Fund (TEF), has committed a total of $8 million towards the running of the Jam T20 and the Jamaica Premier League (JPL) competitions.

The fourth edition of the Jam T20, competed between the mostly traditional clubs, parishes and associations, is scheduled to run from August 24 to September 22. A total of 26 teams across six zones are expected to participate.

The second staging of the franchise-based JPL is set for October 5 to November 2 and will involve six teams.

Speaking at yesterday’s Jam T20 launch at the Melbourne Cricket Club, JCA first Vice-President Milton Henry thanked the TEF for their involvement in a partnership that, it is hoped, will boost the sport’s tourism thrust.

He said venues along the northern coast of the island, including the woefully under-utilised Trelawny Multi-purpose Stadium, will host matches.

“We really need to invest in our cricket and this opportunity is what we are presenting today. We wish to excite our fans across the island and we are doing it through this wonderful sponsorship that is provided by the TEF. We need to develop our cricketers as we prepare them for the opportunities that you are seeing on the world stage,” said Henry.

Minister with responsibility for sport, Natalie Neita-Headley, who just recently returned from the IAAF World Championships in Moscow, linked the high attendance for the CPL matches with the revenue-making potential of the T20 format.

She welcomed the TEF’s renewed support of Jamaica’s cricket, while noting that more advantage should be taken of the regional team’s position as World T20 champions.

“Everybody wants to be a part of this game because of the excitement it offers in this format,” she said.

“We can achieve this only if we continue to host our own high quality local competitions so we can build on our achievements. We congratulate organisers, sponsors and partners in seeing, not only the value of the competition to improve West Indies and Jamaica cricket, but also in seeing tourism opportunities,” Neita-Headley added.

Clyde Harrison, executive director of the Enhancement Fund, called on other investors to support the development of cricket, while challenging administrators and other members of the cricket fraternity to “build from here” and get “larger crowds and greater participation”.

Other sponsors of the JCA-organised T20 competitions are Hi-Lyte, KLAS Radio, Sports Development Foundation, Jamaica National and First Global.