JAMAICA Cricket Association (JCA) boss Lyndel Wright will not challenge for re-election at the annual general meeting (AGM), due by October this year.

Failing to mask the emotional weight of the occasion, Wright, a former national all-rounder, wiped tears from his eyes while announcing that he “can serve no longer” as the head of local cricket.

“I’m not retiring, I’m not calling end of play, but I can serve no longer as the president of the JCA,” he said at a press briefing at Sabina Park yesterday.

There were a few emotionally driven pauses earlier in Wright’s speech, most noticeably one which lasted a tense 20 seconds, where he seemed to be composing himself, but the JCA president was onto the front foot thereafter.

Wright, who defeated then president Paul Campbell for the top spot in May 2011, declared that fear of losing at the next election was not the reason for his decision.

He went further by resolutely dismissing suggestions that he was walking away due to the recently announced challenge of CHASE Fund chief executive officer William ‘Billy’ Heaven.

“I wasn’t pushed out, it’s just a decision that I took… I don’t fear. What should I fear when I trust in God?” the 63-year-old remarked.

He stressed that family responsibility, commitment to his regular job in project management and a desire to invest more time into his boyhood club Boys’ Town were the key reasons.

“I do not have the time… Of course I need some time with my wife and family,” Wright said, while explaining that he was not employed when he initially took office.

In the meantime, the Jamaica Observer understands that a member of Wright’s current executive — first vice-president Milton Henry — could, in the coming days, enter the race for JCA president.

When asked of that possibility, Wright said he would be supporting Henry, a man whom he said has “worked assiduously” and one he (Wright) saw as his likely “successor”.

Incidentally, quite a few members of Wright’s executive, including Henry, were absent from the short conference.

Meanwhile, Wright said the respective triumphs of Jamaica’s men’s team, the women’s cricketers, the various youth teams and the visually impaired outfit were prime examples of the success his administration oversaw during the two years.

The JCA president made mention of the impending installation of floodlights at Sabina Park as another silver lining.

Wright also highlighted the JCA’s partnership with Corporate Jamaica, which according to him, helped to reap a total of $45 million for the financially struggling association between May 2011 and May 2012.

He conceded that a lack of funding prevented the association from hosting more clinics, an extended Senior Cup club competition, as well as more educational and social benefit programmes for players.

Though he did not name them specifically, there were other infamously challenging episodes as well.

Many cricket followers quickly recall the fiasco surrounding the naming and subsequent rescinding of the Lawrence Rowe Players’ Pavilion.

There was the administrative blunder which left a makeshift Under-15 team to compete regionally last summer, and more recently, the incident which saw West Indies cricket legend and ambassador Courtney Walsh barred from entering a section of Sabina Park.

“The administration also had its fair share of issues, but these have made… us stronger because measures were put in place,” he defended.

“I would like to express appreciation to directors, staff, players, the affiliates and members in the JCA who have worked during challenging times to ensure (that the) standard of cricket is maintained at the highest level,” Wright added.