The Jamaican government has stated that it decided not
to make an official application to host matches in the 2019 men’s T20 World Cup
because “limited resources” on the island required it to “pay
attention to the cost-and-benefit analysis.”
It wasn’t an easy choice, according to sports minister
Olivia Grange, but after weighing “different permutations,” the
government decided that holding World Cup games in Jamaica would cost far more
than it would gain.
“We had been considering the cost and source of
funding of nearly half a billion dollars to host a few games in Jamaica,”
Grange said. “In our cost/benefit analysis with stakeholders, we also
considered the economic, social and development impact, including the potential
tourism-related impact and attendant industry benefits using year-over-year
economic modelling, reconciled against current tourism performance.
“It was a robust exercise in which we considered
different permutations including the option not to bid.”
The World Cup’s Caribbean leg’s venues were revealed
last week by the ICC in collaboration with Cricket West Indies. The USA will
co-host the event. Based on local governments’ bids, the locations were chosen.
All of the well-known cricketing locations in the
Caribbean, with the exception of Jamaica, Grenada, and St. Kitts & Nevis,
reportedly submitted proposals. The games will now be held in seven locations:
Antigua, Barbados, Dominica, Guyana, Saint Lucia, St. Vincent and the
Grenadines, and Trinidad & Tobago.
“It was not an easy decision and I very much
understand and share the disappointment of fans who wanted to see T20 World Cup
games being played in Jamaica. However, I could not just follow my heart,”
she said. “As a responsible minister, I am obliged to look beyond
immediate gratification to sustainable sport development that will yield
immeasurable rewards at all levels in Jamaica. I had to pay attention to the
cost/benefit analysis, especially in a circumstance of limited resources.
“This is in addition to our ambitious plan for
the rehabilitation and development of Jamaica’s sports infrastructure. We will
continue discussions with stakeholders about bringing international cricket to
Jamaica in the near future.”