First vice-president of the Jamaica Cricket Association, Paul Campbell (left), and David Folb (right), chairman of Lashings, shake hands after signing the three-year agreement between both organisations at the Half Moon Hotel in Montego Bay yesterday. - photo by adrian frater Adrian Frater, News Editor

WESTERN BUREAU:

JAMAICA AND the internationally-renowned Lashings World XI are set to meet in a 40-overs cricket match on December 2 at the new Tre-lawny multi-purpose stadium as part of the exciting four-day Jamaica Cricket Festival of Stars.

The announcement was the centrepiece of yesterday's official signing of a three-year partnership agreement between the Jamaica Cricket Association (JCA) and the Lashings World XI, which is expected to bring substantial sporting, tourism and educational benefits to Jamaica.

"This unique partnership epitomises what Lashings World XI is all about," said David Folb, the chairman of Lashings. "This partnership will provide an opportunity for young Jamaica cricketers to further their education and develop their cricket in the United Kingdom through scholarships which form part of this agreement."

Banquet and silent auction

In addition to cricket match, The Festival of Stars, which will span December 1-4, will feature a banquet and silent auction at Montego Bay's Half Moon Hotel on Friday, December 1; a celebrity golf tournament at Half Moon on December 2; a Beach Cricket Tournament at Montego Bay's Aquasol Theme Park on December 3 and a youth coaching and 20/20 cricket match at the Trelawny Stadium on December 4.

According to Paul Campbell, first vice-president of the JCA, the Festival of Stars is the association's strategy to collaborate with tourism interests, corporate Jamaica and international sporting bodies and clubs to continue the investment and expansion of sports tourism in Jamaica.

"This will create a win-win situation for tourism and local cricket," said Campbell. "It will help the JCA to maximise the full benefits that can come to us from cricket."

Blessings

The Lashings XI against Jamaica game, the second international game to be staged at the new Trelawny Stadium, has gotten the blessings of the Local Organising Committee (LOC) for ICC World Cup 2007, which has accepted the game as part of its plans to test the readiness of the new facility ahead of its hosting of the World Cup opening ceremony.

The star-studded Lashings team will include former West Indies Test stars Richie Richardson, Jimmy Adams, Curtly Ambrose and Courtney Walsh alongside former Pakistan wicketkeeper/bats-man Rashid Latif, Zimbabwe's Grant Flower, Sri Lanka's Aravinda daSilva and lesser known players such as Chris Silverwood, Mark Ealham and Min Patel.

Jamaica's team will come from Tamar Lambert, Danza Hyatt, Gareth Breese, David Bernard, Donovan Pagan, Jermaine Lawson, Andrew Richardson, Wavell Hinds, Marlon Samuels, Carlton Baugh, Odean Brown, Dave Bulli and guest players Kieran Powell (Windward Islands), Esaun Crandon (Guyana) and Tonito Willett (Nevis).