Jamaica ready to take LCPL Spotlight

Aug 15, 2013 Sports

CPL – KINGSTON, Jamaica – Action-starved fans in Jamaica will be treated to a scintillating package of cricket and entertainment over the next few days when the excitement-filled Limacol Caribbean Premier League takes flight at Sabina Park today.
The Jamaica leg of the inaugural regional tournament, which climaxes on Sunday, August 18th, is the latest chapter to be unveiled, following action in Barbados, Guyana, St Lucia and Trinidad and Tobago in recent weeks.
Over the last week, preparations have gone into high gear at Sabina Park for the three-match programme, and Cricket Operations Officer O’Neil Cruickshank has given the assurance that all systems are go for the Jamaica leg.
“We have been preparing for this for a while now and we are confident of delivering what we expect to be a very successful leg of the Caribbean Premier League,” Cruickshank said.

Chris Gayle and Lendl Simmons will both hope to star for their respective teams. (CPL)

“The tournament has been an overwhelming success so far and a huge hit with Caribbean fans, and we expect no different from the cricket-hungry Jamaica public who we expect to come out and support this event.”
He continued: “Unlike some other venues, Jamaica’s games will be played during the day hours but we’re appealing to Jamaican fans to come out and see the likes of Chris Gayle and Kieron Pollard, and other international stars who will be on display.”
Host team Jamaica Tallawahs will raise the curtain on the Jamaica leg today when they clash with Guyana Amazon Warriors at 2 pm at Sabina Park.
This will be followed by an intriguing doubleheader on Saturday, August 17th, when St Lucia Zouks and Trinidad and Tobago Red Steel do battle at 10 am, and Tallawahs and Barbados Tridents clash in the feature game at 2 pm.
The tournament will climax on Sunday when Tallawahs and Red Steel face off in an electrifying encounter at 2 pm.
In addition to cricket, fans will be treated to high quality entertainment from international reggae artiste Konshens, who will perform during Thursday’s game, and a performance from dancehall reggae star I-Octane, during Saturday’s schedule.
Event Director Rhonda Kelly said the fusion of cricket and entertainment was one of the hallmarks of the Limacol Caribbean Premier League, and would be even more significant in a musically-rich culture such as Jamaica’s.
“Not only can fans see explosive batting from Chris Gayle and fine catches but they are also guaranteed high quality entertainment from two artistes who are class performers,” Kelly noted. “In the Limacol CPL it is always about the party because we always come to play.”
Fans can purchase tickets for matches from the Sabina Park ticket office, along with Digicel outlets downtown and at Knutsford Boulevard. Tickets, however, will be available only at the Sabina Park office after Friday.
The Limacol Caribbean Premier League got underway two weeks ago in Barbados with a spectacular ceremony and is set to climax in Trinidad and Tobago with the semi-finals on 22nd and 23rd August and the final on 24th August.