SABINA Park is set to host Caribbean Premier League (CPL) matches and West Indies internationals this year, and Cricket West Indies (CWI) CEO Chris Dehring said more investment is needed for the sport in Jamaica as interest continues to grow.

Jamaica Kingsmen will return to the CPL this season after a two-year absence, following a takeover by the American-based Kingsmen Sports Enterprise, owned by Pakistani-born businessman Fawad Sarwar.

The Kingsmen are scheduled to host four matches at Sabina Park on August 11, 13, 15 and 18. The last CPL games played in Jamaica were in 2019, before the COVID-19 pandemic.

Before that tournament, Jamaica will host three One-day Internationals and three T20 Internationals in June between West Indies and Sri Lanka.

With a full schedule ahead, Dehring said the private sector should take a closer look at the opportunities developing around cricket locally.

“We have a saying in cricket — when the bowler bounces and it flies past a batsman’s face, you make him smell the leather. Corporate Jamaica, you need to smell the leather because a gentleman born and raised in Pakistan has come to us via Dallas and recognised the investment opportunity of cricket in Jamaica,” Dehring said.

“We have over four million subscribers on our YouTube channel for domestic cricket. Thousands of people are watching, and Jamaica leads the Caribbean in viewership. About 300,000 people on average here watch our domestic tournaments that are streamed, so Corporate Jamaica, smell the leather.”

Visitors from America, Europe, Asia and Australia are expected for the matches this summer. Dehring said sports tourism has a bigger role to play locally because of its impact on both sport and the wider economy.

“Sports tourism is the fastest-growing segment of the sports industry, and it is also the fastest-growing segment of the tourism industry,” he said.

“When people think of sports, Jamaica comes to mind. When they think of tourism, Jamaica comes to mind. So when they think about sports tourism, where should they be thinking?”

Dehring said CWI will continue to support the CPL, which he described as a key part of the region’s cricket success.

“It is the most successful project Cricket West Indies has undertaken in the last 30 years and an important part of the organisation. Its success shows what can be achieved across domestic sport in the region,” Dehring said.

“CPL calls itself the biggest party in sport, and that reflects how West Indies cricket has always been played — with energy, music and celebration. T20 cricket simply brings that style to a wider audience,” he said.

Jamaica Tallawahs players celebrate winning the Men’s Caribbean Premier League final against Barbados Royals at Providence Stadium in Guyana on September 30, 2022. (Photo: CPL via Getty Images)