WITH international cricket being hosted in Jamaica for three consecutive years, West Indies head coach Daren Sammy says he hopes the island will become a permanent hub for matches going forward.

The Windies wrapped their white-ball series against Sri Lanka at Sabina Park on Sunday with a five-wicket win in the third and final T20 International, giving them a 2-1 win.

The three-match One-Day International (ODI) series, which Sri Lanka won 1-0, also took place at Sabina Park but only the first ODI was possible as the second and third ODI’s were rained out.

Jamaica has seen an increase in international matches in recent times which started with the three match T20 series against South Africa in May 2024. That was followed by the visit of Bangladesh for a test match six months later and hosting Australia in one Test and two T20s last July.

While crowd support for the recently concluded Sri Lanka series was not as strong as it was during Australia’s visit last summer, the Jamaica Observer understands that Cricket West Indies (CWI) still views Sabina Park as one of the region’s premier venues and is strongly considering it to host international series in 2027 and beyond.

CWI President Dr Kishore Shallow attended the Sri Lanka series and also met with Sports Minister Olivia Grange to reaffirm the region’s governing body’s commitment to the island.

Daren Sammy, West Indies Cricket head coach (Photo: CWI Media)

Throwing his support behind Sabina Park, Sammy said Jamaica offers the ideal conditions for his players to thrive.

“I remember just before World Cup 2024, we played South Africa here,” he said. “That was probably the first time we played cricket in years in Sabina. I always tell the guys, we have to give the Sabina fans something to shout about.

“They are quite knowledgeable about the game and if there’s one thing I appreciate, the announcer — every time it seems like the opposition is getting ahead of us, he tries to rile up the crowd to be a 12th man for us and give the guys some sort of confidence. I love playing cricket in Jamaica, for sure. More cricket in Jamaica means more excitement. It’s a place that we’ve done well and the guys enjoy being here as well.”

Fast bowler Shamar Joseph, who was named Man of the Series against Sri Lanka, says he was extra motivated to perform in front of the local support.

“It’s exciting for me to get my first five wicket haul in T20 cricket, I couldn’t ask for anything better,” he said. “Also, a match-winning series for the West Indies team and especially for Jamaica. The support that they bring out to us, there’s nothing more encouraging than having fans behind your back. They just give you that courage to keep going.”

While no international series will be held in Jamaica for the rest of the year, Jamaica Cricket Association president Dr Donovan Bennett told the Observer they are in the running to host India and England, who are set to visit the Caribbean next year.