Heaven ‘disappointed’

JCA boss responds to suspension of play on opening day of regional match

PRESIDENT OF the Jamaica Cricket Association (JCA) Wilford ‘Billy’ Heaven says he is yet to receive a report from match officials on why play was suspended for four hours on the opening day of the Jamaica Scorpions versus Trinidad and Tobago WICB Professional Cricket League Four-day match at Sabina Park last Thursday.

Play was suspended after batsmen from the visiting team complained that the pitch was damp and dangerous. West Indies batsman Darren Bravo was among those hit by sharply rising balls in the first half-hour of the game before the decision was taken to suspend play in the match, which ends today.

Heaven told The Sunday Gleaner that he was very disappointed with what took place and that his association is now anxiously awaiting a report from the various parties that were involved.

“I have not had a report from those responsible, but I just want to make it clear, though, that the facilities at Sabina Park, including the outfield, the pitches, and so on, are not the responsibility of the JCA. It is the responsibility of Sabina Park holdings Limited, and that organisation takes responsibility for all of those things,” said Heaven.

He added: “The JCA rents the facility for these matches, and that part of it (preparation of pitches) has nothing to do with the JCA, but it is our game that was impacted by this, and so we await a report.

“There was a match referee, the umpires and everybody who was there, and so we await that

HEAVEN

report. We also expect a report from Sabina Park Holdings on the matter, and then we will take it from there,” he said.

Heaven said that he could not say at this time what position the region’s governing body would take on the matter.

“I am not aware of Cricket West Indies’ position, but the fact is we have been able to make up the lost time,” Heaven said.

The JCA boss said his association is prepared to deal with whatever sanction it might face from Cricket West Indies on the matter.

“If there are sanctions, then we will have to look at the sanctions, and we will have to review them, and we will have to look at the reasons (for the sanctions) within the context of what took place,” he said.

* See related story on B3.

IAN ALLEN/PHOTOGRAPHER Umpires examine the wicket at Sabina Park just before calling a halt to play because of a damp and dangerous wicket in the Professional Cricket League Regional Four-Day clash between Jamaica Scorpions and Trinidad and Tobago Red Force last Thursday.