The Barbados Football Association (BFA) has officially named its National Senior Men’s Squad for the upcoming 2024/25 CONCACAF Nations League C campaign. The 23-man squad, alongside the management team, is set to travel to St. Croix in the US Virgin Islands this Thursday as they prepare for their opening matches.

 

Head Coach Kent Hall has expressed optimism about the team's development, building on the groundwork laid during the 2023 World Cup Qualifiers and has chosen to blend experience with fresh talent as he looks to revitalize the squad following a challenging period. 

Notably absent from the squad are Weymouth Wales’ Nadre Butcher and Elijah Downey, along with Tajio James and Akeem Hill. The squad will also be without the services of Thierry Gale, who is still recovering from an ACL injury sustained in February. Hall emphasized the importance of fitness and readiness for the physical demands of international football as key factors behind the selection of the new-look squad.

In goal, Nicoli Brathwaite will take the lead, providing a solid foundation for the team’s defense. In defense, the likes of Andre Applewhaite, who will captain the side, along with Ackeel Applewhaite, Sheran Hoyte, and Shay Prescod, are expected to form a formidable backline. These players will be joined by Khimani Cox and Nathan Walters, offering further defensive strength.

 Midfield duties will be handled by experienced players such as Hadan Holligan and Jireh Malcolm, who will work alongside younger talents like Nathan Sealy and Justin Griffith. Hall’s midfield selection highlights a blend of creativity, dynamism, and control, which will be essential in executing the team’s game plan.

 In attack, the team will look to the pace and precision of players like Ricardio Morris and Ethan Taylor, both of whom have proven their goal-scoring capabilities. Khalil Vanderpool-Nurse and Mario Williams are expected to add further depth to the attacking options, ensuring Barbados can compete at the highest level in their matches against The Bahamas and the US Virgin Islands.

 

Cricket West Indies (CWI) has announced the appointment of Rupert Hunter as its new Chief Commercial Officer (CCO), marking a pivotal moment for the organization. Hunter, who most recently served as Head of Brand Partnerships at the International Cricket Council (ICC), will officially assume his new role in October, based at CWI's headquarters in Coolidge Cricket Ground, Antigua.

 Hunter brings with him an impressive 24 years of experience in the sports industry, having held senior roles at some of the world's top sports and entertainment agencies. His career includes significant stints at global firms such as Bates Worldwide Advertising, World Sport Group, Havas Sports, IMG Media, and Six Nations Rugby. During his tenure at the ICC, Hunter was instrumental in driving global sponsorships and partnerships, making him a valuable addition to CWI's leadership team.

 Mrs. Debra Coryat-Patton, Independent Director and Chair of the Human Capital & Recruitment Committee, expressed her enthusiasm for Hunter's appointment. "We're excited to welcome Rupert Hunter as our new Chief Commercial Officer. After a thorough selection process, Rupert emerged as the top choice for this very critical role. His global outlook is vital for building strong international partnerships, and he’ll be tasked with driving revenue growth and expanding our fan base in the Caribbean and beyond. With his extensive experience, we’re confident Rupert will hit the ground running and make a significant impact."

 For Hunter, joining CWI represents an opportunity to further build on the region's rich cricketing legacy. "The opportunity to join Cricket West Indies, after hosting an outstanding T20 World Cup tournament, and to re-immerse myself in the world of international cricket is very exciting. West Indies cricket has a very meaningful heritage as well as global appeal, and so I look forward to realizing the full commercial potential of the brand, the teams, and the organization in the months ahead," Hunter said.

 In his new role, Hunter will oversee CWI's Commercial, Marketing, and Communications Department, working closely with newly appointed Communication and Media Manager, Nyssa Pierre. This marks a significant strengthening of the senior executive team as CWI continues its strategic restructuring to improve overall efficiency and performance.

 Hunter's extensive background and international experience are expected to bring fresh perspectives and commercial acumen to West Indies cricket, a sport deeply embedded in the region's cultural fabric. With this new addition to the leadership team, CWI looks set to bolster its commercial portfolio while expanding its reach and influence both in the Caribbean and on the global stage.

Jamaica’s practical pistol shooters demonstrated exceptional precision, versatility and resilience at the recently concluded Smoking Barrels Xtreme Regional Shooting Competition in Barbados. The team secured top honours in every category, solidifying their reputation as one of the Caribbean’s premier competitive shooting teams.

The Jamaicans stood out in this highly competitive Level 3 event, challenging elite marksmen and women from countries such as the United States of America (USA), Suriname, Columbia, Grenada, Barbados, Trinidad and Tobago, and St. Lucia.

As a team, Jamaica secured first, second and third place finishes in the Production Optics, Production and Open Divisions, respectively.

The individual events saw Darin Richards leading the charge, as he copped first-place in the Standard Division and the esteemed International Practical Shooting Confederation (IPSC) President’s gold medal. His outstanding performance set the tone for the entire team.

Adrian Randle and Rohan Wallace finished second in their respective divisions, while Alrice Palmer finished third in the highly competitive Open Division, further demonstrating Jamaica’s depth of talent. Lennie Moulton also placed second in the Open Division’s Senior Category.

The women were also a formidable force, as Yeonie Campbell and Florence Golding achieved a first and second place finish, respectively, in the Production Division lady category.

Meanwhile, the Jamaica Constabulary Force’s (JCF) very own, Corporal Shayon Francis, captured the High Lady Award as the highest-placed female shooter overall in the match, marking a significant achievement for the team and the country. Their remarkable performances highlighted the strength and competitiveness of Jamaica’s female shooters.

“We are incredibly proud of the team’s performance at the Smoking Barrels Xtreme Regional Shooting Competition,” said Yeonie Campbell, the Jamaica Rifle Association’s (JRA) Pistol Captain.

“This success is a testament to the dedication, discipline, and hard work of our shooters, and we are thrilled to bring home these well-deserved accolades,” she added.

Jamaica’s stellar performance at this prestigious event reaffirms the nation’s status in the shooting sports arena. The team’s achievements not only reflect their individual talents but also the strong support and training environment that has been cultivated within country’s shooting community.

“The JRA is dedicated to the promotion and development of shooting sports in Jamaica, providing opportunities for shooters of all levels to hone their skills and compete at the highest levels both regionally and internationally,” said Rohan Wilson, President of the JRA.

The Jamaican team returned home beaming with pride as they carried with them not just trophies and medals but also the pride of a nation that continues to excel on the regional and international stage.

Saint Lucia Kings continued their impressive start to the Republic Bank Caribbean Premier League (CPL) with a dominant seven-wicket victory over Antigua & Barbuda Falcons Tuesday night.

Chasing 143 in Antigua, captain Faf du Plessis got the Kings off to a flier before they romped to the target with 18 balls to spare. It was a far less eventful chase for Kings than their remarkable season opening win over St Kitts & Nevis Patriots. But it was more heartache for the Falcons, who suffered a fourth straight defeat in their debut season. The home side were unable to capitalize on a promising start from new opening partners Fakhar Zaman and Justin Greaves as their innings fell away after the PowerPlay.

Left-arm spinner Noor Ahmad starred with 3-18 to restrict Falcons to a modest 142-7 - the lowest total in the CPL this season. Assistant coach Curtly Ambrose provided a passionate rallying cry for his team, but the Falcons attack struggled against the Kings' firepower as opener Johnson Charles anchored the innings with an unbeaten 47 off 46 balls.

A desperate Falcons had been sent in to bat in windy conditions. Greaves, in his season debut, tried to provide a tonic and smashed a second ball boundary while Zaman soon found his rhythm with a stunning straight six off seamer Matthew Forde. But their blossoming 35-run partnership was broken when Zaman was well caught by a running Khary Pierre, who shortly afterwards clean bowled Kofi James.

Pierre continued to be part of the action when he caught a skier from Greaves, who fell on 36 after he gamely tried to hit into the breeze.

The Falcons were shackled by disciplined bowling in the middle overs, unable to hit boundaries as their innings flamed out.

Du Plessis made batting look easy and whacked quick Shamar Springer for three boundaries and a six in the second over. He smashed 28 in his first 11 deliveries before falling in the first over from spinner Imad Wasim.

The wicket of du Plessis and a brief rain delay at North Sound did not stop Kings' momentum as Charles and Bhanuka Rajapaksa bludgeoned monstrous sixes. Captain Chris Green took it upon himself to revive the Falcons with the wicket of Rajapaksa in the eighth over.

But in Green's next over when he dropped a return chance to reprieve Ackeem Auguste on the last ball before drinks. A rampant Tim Seifert finished off the match in style with a six as Kings made an early season statement.

After a challenging spell on the sidelines, England-born Reggae Boyz defender Amari’i Bell is back with the national team and is already setting his sights on greater success.

Bell, a seasoned fullback who has been a key figure for Jamaica, is thrilled to rejoin his teammates and play under new head coach Steve McClaren, with their first assignment being the 2024/25 Concacaf Nations League.

The Reggae Boyz are set to host Cuba at the National Stadium on Friday before travelling to face Honduras four days later.

Bell, who missed significant time for both club and country due to a torn hamstring for which he had to do a repair surgery, expressed his excitement about returning to the Jamaican squad.

“It feels amazing to be back; it's been a long time now, but, you know, I'm happy to be here. It’s been tough being away from the pitch, and it was a big injury, one of my first of my career, so mentally it was hard to get back in a good place. But I went through the rough patch, and I'm now feeling good. I'm in good spirits and ready to go,” Bell shared.

“Like I said, it was a long time out and I had my ups and downs through the rehab process, but towards the end of it, I started to see the light a lot more and, yeah, mentally, my head is in a much better place,” he added.

Bell’s return comes at a crucial time for Jamaica, as they aim to build on their third-place finish in the last edition of the Concacaf Nations League.

The team’s performance was commendable, but Bell believes they have the potential to go all the way this time around, particularly with the guidance of McClaren, who brings a wealth of experience to the team.

McClaren, who has managed clubs in England’s Premier League and served as an assistant coach for the England national team, is known for his tactical acumen and ability to get the best out of his players.

“Yeah, for sure, for sure. Finishing third was a strong result, but we know we have the ability to do even better, so the plan is to go one step better this time and win it. That's the plan, and there's no reason why we can't do it. Everybody believes in ourselves and what we can do. So, yeah, we're going to go for it,” Bell said.

With his presence, Bell, who has 17 international caps since making his debut in 2021, adds depth and experience to Jamaica’s defensive line, a critical component as they aim to stifle the opposition in what promises to be a highly competitive tournament.

The 30-year-old’s ability to balance defensive duties with attacking support makes him a vital asset to the team’s ambitions.

“We’ve been building something special with this group. The chemistry is there, and the belief is growing. We know that winning the Nations League is a realistic goal, and we’re all committed to making it happen. We didn't do well in the Copa America as we thought we could have, but it's stepping stones,” Bell, who has two Concacaf Gold Cup and a Copa America appearance, noted.

For Bell, the opportunity to lift the Concacaf Nations League trophy would be a career-defining moment, much like it was when his club Luton Town earned promotion to the English Premier League (EPL).

Though his EPL experience was cut short due to the injury, Bell is eager to relive the experience.

“Yeah, man, that (Premier League experience) was amazing. It is something that everyone aspires to do in their career, and, you know, thankfully I got there. Unfortunately, it was cut short by the injury, so I still feel like I've got unfinished business there, and the aim with Luton is to get back promoted,” Bell declared.

The much-anticipated fourth edition of the Concacaf Nations League gets underway on Wednesday, when 16 League B teams begin their hunt for promotion to taste League A action in the tournament’s next edition.

Split into four groups, the countries will face each other twice during the FIFA Match Windows in September, October, and November. However, unlike previous editions, matches will now be played at a centralized venue per group to help alleviate some of the travel challenges in the region.

Group winners will be promoted to League A, while fourth-place finishes are relegated to League C. Additionally, the tournament will help to decide berths for the 2025 Concacaf Gold Cup.

Group A

El Salvador, Montserrat, Saint Vincent and the Grenadines, and Bonaire comprise the first group. El Salvador returns to League B after being relegated in last year’s tournament, while Bonaire makes its debut after earning a promotion from League C.

Montserrat and Saint Vincent and the Grenadines will try to build on their 2023/24 Nations League campaign, in which they both finished with nine points.

Group B

Curaçao, Saint Lucia, Grenada, and Saint Martin are the teams drawn into Group B.

Saint Martin was promoted to League B, coming off an undefeated run in last year’s Nations League, while Curaçao is back in League B for the first time in three years after being relegated from League A. Grenada is also back after being relegated for the first time in four years.

Meanwhile, Saint Lucia, which tallied 10 points last year, will be hoping to ascend to League A for the first time.

Group C

Haiti, Puerto Rico, Aruba, and Sint Maarten round out Group C.

Aruba returns to League B for the first time since 2019/20 via promotion. Haiti also is back after being relegated.

Sint Maarten and Puerto Rico will rely on top scorers Gerwin Lake and Ricardo Rivera to lead the way.

Group D

The four teams in Group D are the Dominican Republic, Bermuda, Antigua and Barbuda, and Dominica.

Dominica arrives via promotion from League C to rub shoulders with Dominican Republic, and Antigua and Barbuda, who are on the hunt for a first-ever League A promotion, while Bermuda aims to improve after going 2-2-2 in last year’s edition.

At the conclusion of the group stage in November, the four group winners will qualify for the 2025 Concacaf Gold Cup Group Stage, and the two best second-place finishers will advance to the 2025 Gold Cup Prelims.

The Gold Cup Prelims are scheduled for March 2025.

Meanwhile, League C action is also scheduled for Wednesday, with Bahamas and US Virgin Islands to open their Group A accounts. Barbados is the other team in the group.

Anguilla and Turks and Caicos Islands are set to cross swords in Group B, which also includes Belize, while British Virgin Islands will visit Cayman Islands in Group C, which also has St Kitts and Nevis.

At the end of the Group Stage in October, the three group winners and the best second-place finishers will advance to the 2024 Concacaf Nations League Play-In. The Play-In will take place in November 2024.

Stuart Armstrong has completed a move to the MLS with the Vancouver Whitecaps following his exit from Southampton at the end of last season. 

Armstrong, who made 214 appearances in all competitions for the Saints, has signed a two-year deal and will join fellow Scotland team-mate Ryan Gauld at the club, having previously played with him at Dundee United.  

The 32-year-old was part of Steve Clarke's Scotland side during their dismal display at Euro 2024, featuring once as a substitute in their 1-0 defeat to Hungary.

He played 42 times in the Championship for Russell Martin's side last year, scoring five goals and adding seven assists, but missed the play-off final with a hamstring injury.

During his four-year stint at St. Mary's, Armstrong made 149 appearances in the Premier League and will provide an experienced midfield option for head coach Vanni Sartini.

“We are very excited to welcome Stuart and his family to Vancouver,” said Whitecaps FC sporting director, Axel Schuster. 

“He is a player who has excelled for many years at the highest levels in the United Kingdom, as well as internationally with Scotland.

"He brings experience, tactical awareness, positional flexibility, and a very high work rate.

"In addition, his passing range and elite chance creation from the midfield position will add another dimension to our team’s overall attack."

The Whitecaps currently sit fifth in the Western Conference table, with Armstrong potentially in line to make his debut this weekend against FC Dallas. 

Trinidad and Tobago are champions of the 2024 Cricket West Indies Rising Stars Men’s Under-17 50-overs Championship.

With rain ruining their game against Barbados at Inshan Ali Park, Monday’s no result meant that the local squad are the champions.

T&T claimed the title with a record of three victories with two no results, after their fifth and final round match against Barbados was a washout.

Barbados concluded their campaign with two wins, with their three other games ending in with no results in the heavily rain-affected tournament. The entire second round was washed out by rain.

On Monday, the Brendan Boodoo-captained T&T squad batted first and tallied a relatively substantial 159 all out in 46.4 overs.

Christian Lall top-scored with a 57-ball 46 and received solid support from skipper Boodoo, who made 30 off 57 balls, including four boundaries.

Darrius Batoosingh chipped in with a valuable 29 from 56 balls, counting four fours.

Zachary Carty was the main wicket-taker for the Bajans, bagging 4-20.

In their turn at the crease, Barbados were 28-1 off five overs when rain forced the players off the field. The match was eventually called off.

And at the National Cricket Centre in Couva, there was also a no result after Guyana batted first, compiling 171 from 40.5 overs against the Leeward Islands.

Openers Vikash Wilkinson (34) and Rampersaud Ramnauth (31) led the way for the Guyanese while Romario Ramdeholl contributed 23.

For the Leewards, Isra-el Morton was the main man with the ball with 3-44, while Jaheem Kevaughn Clarke and Micah McKenzie took 2-20 and 2-24, respectively.

In yesterday’s other scheduled fixture, between Jamaica and the Windward Islands, at Gilbert Park, in California, the match was abandoned without a ball being bowled.

 

Veteran Kevon Woodley is poised to make his much-anticipated debut in the Concacaf Nations League for Trinidad and Tobago, as he was named to Derek King’s 23-man squad to tackle League A opponents Honduras and French Guiana.

King, who was appointed on an interim basis after Angus Eve’s dismissal, is now charged with moving the senior Soca Warriors program forward and his selections for the September 6 and 10 contests signals a commitment of continuity and team chemistry.

Having served as an assistant to Eve, King’s squad features a core of players who were part of the former tactician’s squad that drew with Grenada and defeated Bahamas in their World Cup qualifying fixtures in June.

King’s side, which is without Greece-based forward Levi Garcia and Ajani Fortune, who are both unavailable, will travel to Honduras for Friday’s engagement before returning home to host French Guiana at the Dwight Yorke Stadium four days later.

Despite the absence of Garcia and Fortune, King remains confident in the strength and depth of the squad, which, along with Woodley, includes the likes of forward Reon Moore, defender Andre Raymond, box-to-box midfielder Andre Rampersad and goalie Denzil Smith.

“The team we’ve selected is one that has shown great potential and cohesion over the past few months. As we begin our group-stage campaign, the selected players are fit, focused and ready to perform at their best and I have been in discussion with each player about their expectations and responsibilities,” King said in a TTFA media release.

Woodley, 38, earned his Nations League call-up three months after earning his first senior Soca Warriors cap, as he has enjoyed good form for local club Police FC, including scoring a delightful header in a 1-4 Concacaf Caribbean Cup loss to Jamaica's Cavalier FC on August 29.

King pointed out that professionalism and hard work were key components in his selections.

“While it is never easy to narrow down the squad, I believe the players chosen are the ones who will help us navigate these two important fixtures successfully,” King declared.

“We need to be professional and disciplined in our approach and recognise the challenge of playing away from home in our opening match. It will be important that we maintain a high level of professionalism and remain focused throughout,” he added.

The Soca Warriors will depart for Honduras on Tuesday with last year’s campaign, which ended at the quarterfinal, at the top of their minds as they seek to replicate or even better that feat.

Trinidad and Tobago Squad -Christopher Biggette (Defence Force); Aubrey David (Deportivo Municipal); Triston Hodge (Hartford Athletic); Isaiah Lee (La Horquetta Rangers); Leland Archer (Charleston Battery); Andre Raymond (St Johnstone FC); Ryan Telfer (Halifax Wanderers); Duane Muckette (AC Port of Spain); Nathaniel James (Mount Pleasant FA); Real Gill (Northern Colorado Hailstorm); Daniel Phillips (Stevenage); Steffen Yeates (Pacific FC), Reon Moore (Pacific FC); Shannon Gomez (San Antonio FC); Dantaye Gilbert (Jong PSV); Alvin Jones (Police FC); Justin Garcia (Defence Force); Andre Rampersad (Halifax Wanderers); Noah Powder (Northern Colorado Hailstorm FC);
Kaile Auvray (Cavalier FC), Aaron Enill (Montego Bay United); Denzil Smith (AC Port of Spain); Kevon Woodley (Police FC)

Luis Suarez has announced he will retire from international football after Uruguay's World Cup qualifier versus Paraguay on Friday.

Suarez is Uruguay's all-time leading goalscorer, having netted 69 times in 142 appearances, with only Diego Godin (161) winning more caps for La Celeste.

The striker helped Uruguay reach the semi-finals of the 2010 World Cup and win their 15th Copa America title in 2011, being named Player of the Tournament as he scored four goals including the opener in the final – a 3-0 victory over Paraguay.

Suarez will face the same opponents in his final international match on Saturday as Marcelo Bielsa's team look to build on a return of 13 points from their first six games in the CONMEBOL World Cup qualification process.

"I've been thinking about this and analysing this. I believe this is the right time," a tearful Suarez told reporters on Monday.

"I want to be relaxed when I play my last game with the national team. I'll be just as excited to play as I was in 2007 when I played for my national team for the first time.

"That 19-year old kid is now a veteran player, an older player, however you want to call it, with an incredible history with the national team, that will give his life for the team."

Suarez was memorably sent off for a handball on the goal line to deny Ghana a winning goal as La Celeste won the teams' 2010 World Cup quarter-final on penalties, while he missed the 2015 Copa America after receiving a nine-match ban for biting Giorgio Chiellini at the 2014 World Cup.

"We did go through difficult moments. There were many," he added. "Personally, it was worse for me after my massive mistake in 2014.

"But there's nothing that I would reproach."

The 37-year-old played a limited role as Uruguay took the bronze medal at this year's Copa, making four substitute appearances with Darwin Nunez predominantly leading the line.

Suarez did, however, net a stoppage-time equaliser to take the third-place play-off versus Canada to penalties, also converting from the spot as Uruguay triumphed 4-3 in the subsequent shoot-out.

He has 16 goals in 20 MLS outings for Inter Miami this year, with only Christian Benteke and Cristian Arango (17 each) ahead of him in the Golden Boot race.

Bahamian sprint hurdler Devynne Charlton has been forced to call an early end to her season after suffering a stress fracture during the 100m hurdles at the Rome Diamond League meeting on Friday, August 30. The 28-year-old, who was a finalist in the 100m hurdles at the Tokyo Olympics, did not finish the race in Rome, which was won by Jamaica’s Ackera Nugent in a world-leading 12.24 seconds—a new national record.

Charlton’s 2024 season had been nothing short of spectacular. In March, she claimed the world indoor 60m hurdles title in Glasgow, setting a new world record of 7.65 seconds in the process. This remarkable achievement marked the second time Charlton had broken the world record in 2024, having previously set a new mark of 7.67 seconds at the Millrose Games in New York in February.

The news of Charlton’s injury and subsequent decision to halt her season was announced by her agency, Preeminence Sports Group, via Instagram on Monday. The statement read: “@dvynn_’s season comes to a halt due to a stress fracture at the Rome Diamond League. We salute her incredible efforts this year as a World Indoor Champion, world record holder and Olympic finalist. Wishing her a speedy recovery and looking forward to her return next season.”

Charlton’s impressive achievements this year have solidified her status as one of the top hurdlers in the world. Despite the setback, the Bahamian star remains determined to recover and return stronger in the 2025 season. Fans and supporters will be eagerly awaiting her comeback as she continues to make her mark on the global stage.

Trinidadian and West Indies batter Nicholas Pooran has etched his name in the history books by breaking Chris Gayle's long-standing record for the most sixes hit in a calendar year in T20 cricket. Pooran, known for his explosive batting, reached this milestone during the 2024 Caribbean Premier League (CPL) while playing for the St Kitts and Nevis Patriots.

Pooran’s record-breaking moment came when he struck the sixth of his nine sixes during a blistering 43-ball 97 against the St Kitts and Nevis Patriots, taking his tally to 139 sixes in 2024. This incredible achievement surpassed the previous record of 135 sixes set by Chris Gayle in 2015.

Pooran’s six-hitting spree in 2024 has been nothing short of extraordinary. He has hit 139 sixes off 1145 balls, averaging a six every 8.23 deliveries. While Gayle had a slightly better rate of 7.50 balls per six in 2015, Pooran's consistency over 57 innings—compared to Gayle’s 36—highlights the sustained nature of his power-hitting.

A deeper dive into Pooran's numbers reveals his dominance, especially against pace. Out of his 139 sixes, 92 came against fast bowlers, setting a new record for the most sixes against pace in a calendar year. This is significantly higher than Gayle’s 68 sixes against pacers in 2015. Pooran has averaged a six every 8.65 balls against seamers, while spinners have fared slightly worse, with Pooran sending one over the ropes every 7.43 deliveries.

Pooran has also excelled across different phases of the innings. He smashed 79 sixes during the middle overs (7th to 16th), breaking yet another record previously held by Gayle, who hit 71 sixes in that phase in 2012. Additionally, Pooran hit 32 sixes at the death, averaging a six every 6.22 balls, and 28 in the powerplay, at a rate of 8.14 balls per six.

The 2024 season saw Pooran distribute his sixes across multiple tournaments. He hit the most in the IPL, with 36 sixes, followed by 34 in T20 Internationals, 31 in the ILT20, and 19 in The Hundred. Pooran’s consistency across these formats and leagues underscores his status as one of the most destructive batters in T20 cricket.

Four bowlers were particularly tormented by Pooran’s power-hitting, with each conceding four sixes to him in 2024: Dominic Drakes, Nandre Burger, Rashid Khan, and Sikandar Raza.

With 551 sixes in T20 cricket, Pooran now stands as the fourth-highest six-hitter in the format, trailing only his fellow West Indians Chris Gayle, Kieron Pollard, and Andre Russell. Pooran’s remarkable feat in 2024 not only solidifies his place among the game's greats but also further cements the Caribbean’s legacy in T20 cricket.

 

Attorneys representing Jamaican squash player Julian Morrison have filed a formal application requesting that Catherine Minto, Chair of the Independent Anti-Doping Disciplinary Panel, recuse herself from the ongoing hearing concerning an alleged anti-doping violation. The application, filed by Dr. Emir Crowne, Mr. Matthew Gayle, and Mr. Sayeed Bernard, on Monday, September 2, argues that Minto’s prior extensive working relationship with Kings Counsel Ian Wilkinson, who is representing the Jamaica Anti-Doping Commission (JADCO) in the matter, presents a potential conflict of interest.

The legal team’s concerns are rooted in the principle of impartiality, as outlined in WADA’s International Standard for Results Management. This standard mandates that members of hearing panels must be free from any actual or potential conflicts of interest to ensure a fair and unbiased adjudication process.

According to the standard, “Upon appointment to a hearing panel, each hearing panel member shall sign a declaration that there are no facts or circumstances known to him/her which might call into question their impartiality in the eyes of any of the parties, other than any circumstances disclosed in the declaration…”

Morrison's legal team discovered on August 30, 2024, that Minto had previously served as co-counsel with Wilkinson in several cases, some of which spanned nearly a decade and culminated in an appeal to the Privy Council. Despite the significant duration and nature of this professional relationship, it was not disclosed to Morrison or his representatives at the outset of the hearing. They argue that this omission compromises the perceived impartiality of the Chair and raises questions about the fairness of the proceedings.

Matthew Gayle, one of Morrison’s attorneys, emphasized the seriousness of the situation: “Given that the panel has considered the issue of recusal, substantively for a significant period of time, this ought to have been a matter that was disclosed to the parties so the athlete has no way of knowing but for information in the public domain. This should have been disclosed by the Chair herself and to the parties and give the athlete an opportunity to consider whether or not he wants to raise an objection, and in the circumstances where no disclosure has taken place it does raise a very serious question as to why,” he told Sportsmax.TV.

The application highlights multiple cases, including ones from 2014, 2016, and 2020, where Minto and Wilkinson worked closely together. Morrison’s legal team contends that this omission violates the ethical guidelines that require transparency and impartiality from those presiding over such hearings.

In April, Morrison was provisionally suspended by JADCO after testing positive for trace amounts of the banned anabolic agent Boldenone. Since then, he has been eagerly awaiting the chance to clear his name. His legal team has argued that Morrison unknowingly ingested the substance and is determined to prove his innocence.

The attorneys have requested that Minto either voluntarily recuse herself and be replaced by an alternate who has no recent or extensive professional ties to JADCO's counsel, or that the application for her recusal be decided by other members of the Independent Anti-Doping Disciplinary Panel who are free from similar conflicts.

Morrison’s legal team stressed that this application was not made lightly, acknowledging that it could delay the proceedings. However, they assert that the integrity of the hearing and the athlete’s right to a fair trial must take precedence.

The outcome of this recusal application could significantly impact the course of the hearing, as both parties await a decision that will determine the next steps in this high-stakes case. Morrison remains resolute in his fight to prove his innocence and is hopeful that he will be granted a fair opportunity to do so.

 

 

 

Jamaica's Reggae Boyz have made a crucial adjustment to their squad for the September window of the CONCACAF Nations League, calling up Jamal Lowe to replace the injured Leon Bailey. Bailey sustained an injury during Aston Villa's 2-1 victory over Leicester City in the English Premier League on Saturday, forcing him to withdraw from the national team.

Lowe, known for his versatility and attacking prowess, has been drafted in to fill the void left by Bailey. Lowe, who plays for Swansea City in the English Championship, will join the squad as they prepare for their opening match against Cuba at the National Stadium on September 6. This match is critical for the Reggae Boyz as they aim to start their campaign on a strong note.

The Reggae Boyz coaching staff expressed their disappointment at Bailey's injury but extended their best wishes for his recovery. "We wish Leon a speedy recovery and look forward to seeing him back in action soon," a team spokesperson said. 

Following the match against Cuba, Jamaica will continue their CONCACAF Nations League journey with another important fixture against Honduras. These matches will be vital for Jamaica as they look to advance in the competition and strengthen their position on the international stage.

 

 

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