Ministry of Sports in race against time to implement upgrading work at major sporting venues

Minister of Sports Olivia Grange has conceded that she's in a race against time to decide on providing funding to the Jamaica Cricket Association (JCA) for the upgrading of the lights at Sabina Park, as well as whether the National Stadium track will be resurfaced before the ISSA Boys and Girls Athletics Championships next month.

Speaking with Radio Jamaica Sports at Wednesday's launch of the Jamaica Women's Premier League (JWPL), Minister Grange said her team is addressing both projects with the utmost importance.

Cricket West Indies (CWI) had announced in January that day-night matches would be played at Sabina Park on the basis that the lighting will be up to international cricket standard, while the inaugural Grand Slam Track season will commence in Kingston on April 4.

However, on Tuesday, a Jamaica Cricket Association (JCA) executive confirmed with Radio Jamaica Sports that the Jamaica Scorpions' March 5-8 game which had been set as a day/night affair with pink ball will now be a day encounter.

It's understood that the decision was taken by CWI over concerns about the current lighting level at Sabina Park which it deemed unfit to host night games.