The Hanover Cricket Association (CA) is searching for a home venue after security concerns were raised when a group of men, nonchalantly bearing firearms in plain view, allegedly assaulted a man at premises next to the Elgin Town field during a match against St Elizabeth CA.

Witnesses said the incident occurred late on Saturday’s opening day of the second-round Senior Cup match at the venue, situated just outside the coastal town of Lucea, the capital of Hanover.

After consultation among the police, match officials and Hanover cricket administrators, the contest was called off Sunday morning ahead of the start of the second and final day’s play.

Scores: St Elizabeth 181 & 61-2; Hanover 110.

A match official confirmed the decision was made to “call it off for security reasons” since the police — said to already be stretched thin in the parish — could not assure presence at the venue throughout the final day.

Dwayne Clayton, Hanover CA president and team manager, said some players were “traumatised” after they watched the incident unfold.

“We were advised by the police that there might be reprisals, so we should call the game off,” he said, while noting the parish’s cricket administrators are exploring the possibility of hosting matches at Rusea’s High School.

“We know it [crime] exists in the country, and in the parish, but never before have we seen something like that. To summarise, it was just tragic [but] none of the players was threatened or hurt or anything.

“We hope for peace, we hope that no form of reprisal may take place, we hope that we will never see such actions again, and that cricket will rise. And I thank the St Elizabeth team and management for remaining calm,” Clayton added.

Up to press time on Sunday, representatives of the governing Jamaica Cricket Association declined to comment on the matter on the grounds that they were awaiting the umpires’ report.

St Elizabeth Captain Damian Ebanks, whose team had secured first-innings advantage before the abrupt end to the contest, said it was the right decision.

“It’s disturbing… [players] will be thinking about this for days after days. It’s not good to see, you’re doing something that you love and this happens, it’s a big turn-off. Most of the players were uncomfortable and did not want to go back after what they saw. I think good sense prevailed… I think the guys are strong and they will bounce back,” he said.

Richard Walters, the St Elizabeth team manager, said it was a keen contest until the incident which raised the security concerns.

“The game was being played in good spirits and the accommodation from the Hanover Cricket Association was good. It [the disruption] had nothing to do with the cricket but it was just that there was concern for safety,” he explained.

—Sanjay Myers