Kingston, May 4: Cricket serves as a bridge between India and Jamaica, fostering a relationship “written in runs, respect and friendship”, External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar said as he dedicated a digital scoreboard, gifted by New Delhi, to the Caribbean nation.
Speaking at the unveiling of the scoreboard at the iconic Sabina Park cricket stadium in the Jamaican capital Kingston on Sunday, Jaishankar highlighted the unifying role of sports, particularly cricket, which he said is followed passionately by over a billion people in India.
“Sports bring nations together by creating shared experiences and fostering mutual respect. And cricket, in particular, has a special meaning for India and Jamaica,” he said.
Jamaican Prime Minister Andrew Holness was also present at the event.
Sabina Park is the home of the Jamaica cricket team and is the only Test cricket ground in the island nation.
Recalling the historic significance of Sabina Park, Jaishankar noted that the ground holds special memories for Indian cricket, including a century by legendary cricketer Rahul Dravid and the start of Virat Kohli’s Test career in 2011.
Describing these moments as symbolic of the India-Jamaica connection, he said the relationship between the two countries is “written in runs, respect and friendship”.
Jaishankar said the state-of-the-art electronic scoreboard would enhance the viewing experience for cricket lovers in Jamaica and stands as a testament to the enduring cricketing partnership between the two nations.
Highlighting Jamaica’s rich cricketing legacy, he said the country commands immense respect globally for producing great players such as George Headley, Michael Holding, Courtney Walsh, Chris Gayle and Andrew Richardson.
Jamaican cricketers receive enthusiastic support from Indian fans, including in the Indian Premier League (IPL), Jaishankar said.
As nations cooperate and compete globally, India and Jamaica will always continue to seek “special connections that define our ties, and cricket is very much one of them”, he said.
Calling the scoreboard a symbol of solidarity, Jaishankar expressed hope that it would witness many memorable innings, including those reflecting the growing friendship between India and Jamaica.
“May the scoreboard count many great innings to come. Among them, that of India-Jamaica friendship,” he said.
In a social media post after the unveiling ceremony, Jaishankar noted the absence of cricket legend Gayle at the event, saying he was “missed”.
Cricket has long been a strong cultural bridge between India and Jamaica, which is part of the West Indies cricket team.
Jaishankar, in his speech, underlined that despite geographical distance, India and Jamaica share close ties rooted in a common history and aspirations as developing nations of the Global South.
“We may be geographically some distance apart, but in spirit, in our struggle, in our aspirations, we are indeed very close. Both our nations have come out of a shared history. We are proud developing nations of the Global South today. We have made a place for ourselves in the international community,” he said.
The minister also recalled India’s support to Jamaica during challenging times, including assistance during hurricanes and the COVID-19 pandemic through medicines and vaccines.
Jaishankar arrived in Kingston on Saturday evening, marking the first leg of his nine-day tour of Jamaica, Suriname, and Trinidad and Tobago, aimed at further strengthening India’s strategic and cultural ties with the Caribbean nations.
