‘Cricket isn’t dead!’

JAMAICA Cricket Association President Dr Donovan Bennett believes the Jamaica Kingsmen have already made a strong impression on the island is optimistic they can play a key role in developing grassroots cricket locally. The Caribbean Premier League (CPL) returned to Sabina Park for the first time since 2019 as the new Jamaica franchise hosted four games which concluded last Tuesday. Tens of thousands of Jamaicans turned out for the four matches against the Barbados Tridents, Trinbago Knight Riders, Guyana Amazon Warriors and St Kitts and Nevis Patriots with some of the Caribbean’s top players on display including the Kingsmen’s own Rovman Powell and Andre Russell as well as regional stars Nicholas Pooran, Shimron Hetmeyer and Sunil Narine.

It continued the trend of growing crowd interest shown by local fans following last summer’s series between the West Indies and Australia, as well as Sri Lanka’s visit in June. Bennett believes the Kingsmen’s home leg is a good reflection of the state of cricket in Jamaica. Captain Rovman Powell (left) and Andre Russell of Jamaica Kingsmen knock bats during the Caribbean Premier League match against Trinbago Knight Riders at Sabina Park on August 15, 2026.

(Photo: Naphtali Junior) “I have heard many persons who are or were cricket fans saying that cricket is dead in Jamaica but what both the Sri Lanka tour and the CPL that followed have clearly said is that cricket is not dead in Jamaica,” he told the Jamaica Observer. “In fact, cricket is still one of the most popular sports in the country and that as long as the people are fed the right diet, they get what they want to see, they will come out and support us and it was clear to everybody from the crowds. It was a fantastic atmosphere, not just the numbers, but the participation because the crowds were a behind the team with almost every ball that was bowled.

It was really something electric and really a pleasure to sit and observe.” Although pleased with action on the pitch, Bennett says he was impressed by the Kingsmen’s early investment in youth cricket. The team’s ownership sponsored the All-Grace Shield and All-Headley Cup exhibitions tournament in July, which saw some of the best high school cricketers from the urban and rural areas go head to head in a 50 over match and a T20 match over two days. The Observer understands the Kingsmen handed over $3.1 million to the…