JCA in need of funds for new helmets

With the International Cricket Council's (ICC) new helmet regulations taking effect on Wednesday and with the West Indies Cricket Board (WICB) to introduce the changes to next season's regional competition, the Jamaica Cricket Association (JCA) is now faced with finding funds to purchase the equipment for its players.

The ICC brought into effect on Wednesday, regulations requiring international players to wear the new British standard helmets to prevent a reoccurrence of the Phil Hughs death. However, while the ICC changes are at the international level, the WICB will soon take it regionally.

But Cricket Operations Officer at the JCA O'Neil Cruickshank is concerned about the financial strain such an implementation would put on local boards.

“It’s an expensive sport and the issue is how are we going to enfore it if people can’t afford it? At the JCA we’ll have to wait to see what the West Indies Cricket Board put down on us in terms of that regulation,” said Cruickshank.

Meanwhile, president of the Jamaica Cricket Umpires Association, Norman Malcolm is calling for rules to be put in place to protect youth players.

“At least it would make sense to encourage most of them to get into some form of helmet to offer some form of protection,” said Malcolm.