Jamaica remains a key part of Cricket West Indies’ long-term plans despite recent attendance challenges, with Cricket West Indies President Dr Kishore Shallow insisting the organisation is committed to strengthening the island’s connection to the game. Speaking to The Gleaner following the West Indies’ T20 series victory over Sri Lanka, Shallow outlined why Jamaica continues to occupy an important place in the governing body’s wider strategy for cricket development across the Caribbean.
Jamaica remains central to cricket’s future
The comments come as Cricket West Indies continues efforts to expand fan engagement and participation across the region while competing for attention in an increasingly crowded sports and entertainment landscape. Jamaica has hosted more international cricket in recent years following a period in which top-level matches were less frequent, with administrators seeking to rebuild momentum around the sport.
Reflecting on those efforts, Shallow told The Gleaner: “I think it’s great that we had the turnout we had over the last couple of days, actually, for the T20s especially. The truth is that for a few years, we didn’t have much cricket in Jamaica. And we have just, you know, say probably the last two to three years, we have really made a deliberate effort to see how we can revive cricket here in Jamaica. That’s included, you know, efforts when we brought South Africa here just before the World Cup. And we have brought series after series here. And I think it’s a work in progress, but certainly encouraging, you know. Credit to Jamaica Cricket Association and Dr Bennett and his team, along with all the other stakeholders, the Government, the Ministry of Tourism, they played a part as well.”
Investment extends beyond matchday attendance
While the recent Sri Lanka tour was affected by persistent rain during the ODI leg, Cricket West Indies views the broader objective as creating sustainable interest in the sport rather than focusing solely on short-term attendance figures. The governing body has increasingly emphasised collaboration with local cricket administrators, commercial partners and public stakeholders as part of a wider effort to strengthen the game’s presence on the island.
The strategy is also designed to ensure Jamaica remains a significant contributor to West Indies cricket both on and off the field. Administrators believe stronger engagement can support everything from commercial growth and fan development to the emergence of future elite players.
CPL return seen as a major milestone
A significant part of that vision will be the return of Caribbean Premier League cricket to Jamaica. The island is set to welcome franchise cricket back after several years away, with the Jamaica Kingsmen preparing to establish a renewed local presence in the competition.
Discussing the importance of that investment, Shallow told The Gleaner: “…And what we have done is set out three years ago to say that we need Jamaica to be back in the fold with cricket. We need to have Jamaica as a critical stakeholder. Which is why we have CPL returning here this year. Because we understand that we’re competing with track, we’re competing with football, we’re competing with so many different things, right? But we are absolutely confident that once we continue to stay focused and invest in Jamaica, we are going to see the returns. And with those returns [it] mean more fans at the stadium. It also means more Rovman Powell, Andre Russell, Chris Gayle, and so on. So, we’re very invested in Jamaica and we’re confident that, you know, once we continue to bring cricket here, the stadium is going to be filled eventually…”
Building participation through the shorter format
Cricket West Indies sees T20 cricket as an important tool for attracting new audiences and reconnecting communities with the sport. Franchise competitions such as the CPL are viewed as opportunities to combine elite cricket with entertainment-driven experiences that can appeal to families, younger supporters and casual fans.
The organisation also believes a stronger domestic and franchise presence can help inspire greater participation at grassroots level. By increasing exposure to the sport and creating more opportunities for young people to engage with cricket, administrators hope to strengthen the player pathway and develop the next generation of West Indies talent.
Focused on long-term growth
The emphasis on rebuilding engagement comes during an important period for West Indies cricket. The men’s team has already secured direct qualification for the 2028 T20 World Cup after reaching the Super 8 stage of the 2026 tournament, while attention also remains on improving the side’s position in the ICC Men’s ODI Team Rankings ahead of qualification milestones for the 2027 ODI World Cup.
For Cricket West Indies, strengthening key markets remains a central part of that long-term vision, and Shallow’s comments suggest Jamaica will continue to play a prominent role in those plans.
