by Mick the Ram

In an extraordinary ending to the Super50Cup, Cricket West Indies (CWI) were left with no choice but to announce that because of a double-forfeit by both competing sides no winner could be declared, bringing the month-long tournament to a hugely disappointing conclusion.

Barbados Pride and Jamaica Scorpions were scheduled to contest the final in Tarouba, Trinidad and Tobago, having successfully come through semi-finals against – in the case of Barbados – Trinidad and Tobago Red Force by 153 runs; while Jamaica defeated Leeward Islands Hurricanes by 107 runs.

However, heavy rain reduced the scheduled 50-over game to a 20-over match, but safety concerns saw the captains of the two sides fail to appear for the rearranged coin toss.

Tournament rules stated that if no play is possible in the final, both teams would be declared co-winners, but because match referee Reon King had judged that play WAS possible, the only decision left open was to abandon the game and for CWI to state that this year’s Super50 Cup would have no winner.

The CWI said it would review tournament regulations to avoid a repeat of the incident in future competitions.  

Decision to play had tight latest start time

A statement explained that the final had initially been delayed when scattered showers began around an hour before the scheduled 1pm start.

Then around 5.45pm, the officiating team determined that the game could proceed at the latest possible start time of 6.17pm.

Concern for safety led to no-show

This decision was relayed to the players of both sides, together with the instruction to the captains that the toss would happen at 6pm.

It is understood that there was considerable concern for player safety from both teams due to the condition of the surface, despite assurances from the umpires and match referee that in their opinion it would be perfectly fine.

Essentially the players refused to play

The deadline for the toss came and went and the start time stated earlier, also ticked by.

At that stage the CWI were compelled to announce: “Both captains failed to be present for the toss, allowing time to elapse past the latest starting point.

“As a result, both teams failed to take the field, effectively refusing to play, so this resulted in a double forfeit, with no champion being declared.”

Not a good look for the tournament

The usual outcome under weather affected matches would see a shared trophy by the finalists, which obviously would have been disappointing, but still a worthwhile finish to the previous month’s hard work.

In this case it left everybody completely flat, with a wholly unsatisfactory conclusion that undermined the competition.

Both sides left without any prize money

This year’s winners would have received USD 100,000, with the runners-up getting USD 50,000, but because of how the day played out and the subsequent no-show by either team, the prize money was not released and their efforts earlier in the tournament went unrewarded.