"firmly established itself as a cricketing mecca"

BRIDGETOWN, Barbados (CMC) — Barbados's Prime Minister Mia Mottley has lauded the country's "high level of organisation" after Kensington Oval was awarded the final of this year's Twenty20 World Cup.

In a statement Friday, Mottley said the country had "firmly established itself as a cricketing mecca" while the storied Kensington Oval had cemented its place among the world's leading sporting venues.

The International Cricket Council announced Friday that Barbados could host the final of the June 1-29 showpiece, in addition to three Super Eight second-round games and five group stage matches.

"It is with a sense of pride and excitement that I join cricketing fans here and across the region in celebrating Barbados being selected to host the International Cricket Council 2024 Men's T20 World Cup Final," Mottley said.

"That Barbados will host this final as well as eight other games throughout the tournament — three of which are Super 8 (quarter-finals) games — is nothing short of a privilege and an honour.

"It is a historic moment for our country as well, as this will be the third global cricketing final Kensington Oval has hosted, confirming its place among the world's premiere sporting venues.

"As a Government we believe this is a testament to the high level of organisation Barbados has displayed throughout the years, having hosted the 2007 Men's Cricket World Cup Final and the 2010 Men's T20 World Cup Final."

Read more at Jamaica Observer

Jamaica’s reluctance to make a bid to commit to hosting matches in the upcoming T20 World Cup should be a cause for concern for Cricket West Indies especially with the emergence of the USA which is establishing itself as a viable destination for games in the future.

The West Indies and the USA will co-host the T20 World Cup from June 1-29, with the Sates set to play host to 16 of the tournament’s 55 matches.

Former West Indies director Baldath Mahabir has warned that the Caribbean’s northern neighbours could possibly host an international event on their own in the future while former West Indies manager Omar Khan described the situation with Jamaica not hosting any matches in the World Cup as “definitely concerning”.

“Jamaica are a major part of CWI and I am sure fans would love to see cricket played at Sabina Park,” Khan told the Express yesterday. “CWI needs to sit with the government officials in Jamaica and have a face-to-face meeting to find out what can be done to safeguard the game.”