Though the deadline for bid submissions has passed, stakeholders in Jamaica are keeping fingers crossed that “a tiny window” of opportunity could result in the country hosting matches at the 2024 Twenty20 (T20) Cricket World Cup.

The tournament, scheduled for next June, is to be co-hosted by Cricket West Indies and United States Cricket.

The Jamaica Observer has learnt that the deadline for bidding had twice been extended since May, with the last one expiring at the end of June.

But though those deadlines have long gone there is a chance that the lack of readiness of some venues in the United States could open the door for the Jamaican Government to make a late bid for Sabina Park in Kingston to host matches.

“We are hopeful that within a tiny window of a few days something may materialise,” Courtney Francis, the Jamaica Cricket Association chief executive officer, told the Observer on Thursday.

“Sport Minister Olivia Grange and I have been in discussions to see how best we can make it happen — for us to host,” he said.

Francis declined to comment on the reports about some of the venues in the USA but confirmed that up to Thursday evening “the ICC is yet to finalise on all the venues”.

Since the Observer broke news this week that the Jamaican Government failed to bid for any match at next year’s global showpiece there has been a scramble to shape an about-turn.

In a statement late on Wednesday, Grange said the Government is “considering a bid” and “sees the benefit in hosting T20 World Cup games but was matching that against the tremendous cost involved”.

Grange said the total estimated cost to bid and host games was over $450 million.

The statement added that “discussions are continuing with the Jamaica Cricket Association, which is in dialogue with Cricket West Indies, other stakeholders, and potential partners on the way forward”, given the costs associated with a potential bid.

The Sport Ministry’s statement came after Cricket West Indies (CWI) Chief Executive Officer Johnny Grave told the Observer on Tuesday that Jamaica was not among seven nations from the Caribbean to submit hosting bids. Grave also said that world governing body, the International Cricket Council, is to “announce the venues this month”.

The JCA has distanced itself from the bidding fiasco, noting that months ago it had sent recommendation for the Government to bid for Sabina Park to host a group match and a semi-final fixture at the T20 World Cup.

It is estimated that the cost to upgrade Sabina Park and other venues to be used for training purposes, in addition to expenses associated with the bid would have amounted to over US$2 million.

Since 2021 when CWI and USA Cricket were named co-hosts of the 2024 T20 tournament there had been high level of anticipation across the region.

Jamaica, as a premier tourist destination with world-renowned hotel infrastructure, was seen as a shoo-in for hosting opportunity. Its geographic location in the northern Caribbean offers favourable proximity to the United States, and Sabina Park is one of the region’s most iconic sporting venues.

And, as global economies emerged from the financial strains of the COVID-19 pandemic, the message from the Jamaican Government had been that the country has enjoyed remarkable economic recovery.

That often-repeated position had led some cricket stakeholders in Jamaica to believe the Government was primed to bid for hosting 2024 T20 World Cup matches with hopes of achieving returns on investment.

The Jamaican Government also recently failed to bid to host games against visiting India from July to August, and versus England who are scheduled for a white-ball tour in December.