Above: Chris Gayle’s UK Academy

By the Caribbean Journal staff

Caribbean cricket star Chris Gayle will be launching the Jamaican branch of his Chris Gayle Academy youth empowerment programme next week.

The academy will host 20 young Jamaican men between 16 and 20 years of age from disadvantaged backgrounds for 12 months, “using the power of cricket to unlock their potential and change their lives,” according to the Chris Gayle Foundation.

Gayle, a Jamaican native, first launched his academy in England in May 2013, helping 18 young English men in their development.

“Cricket is indeed a powerful sport; it has certainly changed my life,” Gayle said. “Through cricket, I was given the tools and support to succeed and I want to share this with the youth through my Academy.”

The academy is run by the Chris Gayle Foundation in partnership with Cricket 4 Change, British Airways, Spartan and Digicel Jamaica.

The foundation said 11 young men would arrive from the Chris Gayle Academy UK to help with next week’s launch in Jamaica.

The UK academy and the Jamaican academy will play a friendly T20 match at the Lucas Cricket Club on June 5.