At current, there are no cricket leagues around the world that require players to be vaccinated in order to take part in a competition. However, with the risk and expense attached to the current model of staging tournaments in a biosecure environment and increasing evidence of the positive effect of vaccination on preventing the spread of the virus, there is no guarantee things will stay the same.
At current, a few members of the squad have taken the vaccine, but some remain hesitant at this point in time. Mansingh pointed out that it was the duty of the medical team to educate the players on the risks and benefits of getting vaccinated but, at the end of the day, the freedom to make individual choices had to be respected. He speculated, however, that the choices could plausibly, in the near future, affect an individual’s ability to earn income.
“We live in a free society, and we have to respect the decisions of people. But there may be leagues around the world who say if you are not vaccinated then we will not take you and that is when personal decisions will have to made,” Mansingh told the Mason and Guest Radio program.
“We have erred on the side of freedom of choice, etc., etc. and we will entertain the discussion but there are leagues that are going to pop up, which will not entertain the discussion,” he added.
“We allowed people to opt-out of bubbles that we knew were safe and some of the people that opted out at that time made a completely different choice when they went to India, which was the second most infected country in the world.”
The advisory board also features Dr. Akshai Mansingh, CPL’s Joint Chief Medical Officer, and Dr. Maryam Abdool-Richards, Principal Medical Officer at the Trinidad & Tobago Ministry of Health. This diverse team of experts is tasked with advising the CPL on leveraging its platform to create and promote health and wellness programs.
Pete Russell, CPL’s CEO, expressed enthusiasm about the initiative, stating, "Health, fitness, and wellbeing are very important issues across the Caribbean and around the world, and we want to use cricket and our platform as a force for good in this area. We are looking forward to working with the advisory board to create meaningful and long-lasting programs that have a positive impact on health and wellbeing across the region. Starting this season, there will be activities at the games that will create a fun vibe around health and fitness, allowing everyone to join in and be part of it."
Darren Sammy, the newly appointed West Indies men's head coach, emphasized the importance of health and wellbeing, especially for young people. "The health and wellbeing of the Caribbean people is hugely important to me, especially our young people who we work very hard through my foundation. I am excited to be involved in this great initiative from CPL and I look forward to being involved in creating meaningful programs that come from this new collaboration."
Hayley Matthews, West Indies women's captain and a passionate advocate for women's and girls' participation in sports, shared her enthusiasm as well. "I am passionate about women and girls across the Caribbean being involved in sport and fitness, and I am looking forward to working with the Health and Wellbeing Advisory Board and CPL to create initiatives that will encourage participation. As someone who manages a sporting career while suffering with diabetes, I hope that I can add a unique perspective to the discussions."
The CPL's Health, Fitness, and Wellbeing Advisory Board represents a significant step towards integrating health and wellness into the fabric of Caribbean cricket, ensuring that the sport not only entertains but also contributes positively to the community. The upcoming season will see the introduction of various activities at games designed to promote a fun and engaging atmosphere around health and fitness, inviting fans and participants alike to join in and be part of this initiative.
Now in its eighth year, the programme will this season have 18 places available for students to study for a three credit fully accredited UWI Sports Marketing course. Those students will also be given the opportunity to put the skills they have learned into practice as part of the CPL’s marketing team with an internship at games throughout the 2024 tournament.
The programme has seen dozens of young people across the Caribbean get a fully integrated internship with the CPL team, with several of those interns then securing ongoing paid positions with the tournament.
This year's edition of the tournament will have matches in Antigua & Barbuda, Barbados, Guyana, St Kitts & Nevis, Saint Lucia and Trinidad & Tobago. There will be opportunities for intern in all of those countries as well as the academic Sports Marketing aspect of the course, which is facilitated via online classes delivered by the University of the West Indies.
Chris Watson, Republic Bank CPL’s Head of Marketing, spoke highly about the programme's success.
“We have had some outstanding young people take part in the internship programme over the years and it has been really pleasing to see many of these interns go on to have paid jobs within the CPL. More than this, all those who have taken part have had a great insight into what it takes to put on a world class cricket tournament and entertainment product. We look forward to welcoming the 2024 cohort when we get underway in August," Watson said.
Meanwhile, Dr Akshai Mansingh, Dean of the UWI Faculty of Sport, echoed similar sentiments.
"We noticed that the interns previously partaking in the programme were mainly university students from the region and beyond. This expansion to offer a three-credit elective will allow them to get credits for the programmes they are pursuing, while gaining valuable experience in the largest sporting event in the region," Mansingh shared.
Applications are now open for those who are interested in taking part in the programme and you can apply via this link.
The 2024 ICC T20 World Cup is set to be hosted by the United States and seven Caribbean countries, including St Lucia, Trinidad and Tobago, and Guyana, with the final slated to take place at the iconic Kensington Oval in Barbados. This prestigious cricketing event set to bowl off on June 4 and conclude on June 30, has generated significant interest and excitement among cricket enthusiasts across the region and the globe.
In a statement, Minister Grange explained the rationale behind the decision: "We had been considering the cost and source of funding of nearly half a billion dollars to host a few games in Jamaica. In our cost/benefit analysis with stakeholders, we also considered the economic, social, and development impact, including the potential tourism-related impact and attendant industry benefits using year-over-year economic modeling, reconciled against current tourism performance."
The decision to forego hosting rights was not taken lightly, as the prospect of hosting international cricket matches at renowned venues like Sabina Park in Kingston held immense allure. However, Minister Grange emphasized the need for responsible governance and sustainable development in the sporting arena. She stated, "I could not just follow my heart. As a responsible Minister, I am obliged to look beyond immediate gratification to sustainable sport development that will yield immeasurable rewards at all levels in Jamaica. I had to pay attention to the cost/benefit analysis, especially in a circumstance of limited resources."
Jamaica's commitment to cricket development remains unwavering. Minister Grange announced a significant investment of JMD$100 million in youth cricket and cricket in schools over the next five years. This initiative is in addition to the government's ambitious plan for the rehabilitation and development of Jamaica's sports infrastructure.
While the decision has garnered support for its long-term vision, it has also sparked consternation among stakeholders who view it as a missed opportunity for the country. Opposition leader Mark Golding lamented to the Jamaica Observer, "It is hard to accept that an international tournament of this stature is being played in the Caribbean, and not a single match is being held here at our iconic Sabina Park."
Dr. Donovan Bennett, a Cricket West Indies board director, expressed skepticism about the government's intentions, stating, "It's quite obvious that the Government had no intention of bidding because this thing has been going on for about 10 or 12 weeks."
Dr. Akshai Mansingh, the dean of the Faculty of Sport at The University of the West Indies, echoed the sentiment that Jamaica missed a unique opportunity, saying, "By not bidding, the Jamaican Government spurned the chance to not only boost the economy and the tourism sector but also to upgrade infrastructure."
