Antigua and Barbuda Falcons Issue Official Apology Following Coach’s Criticism of Cricket West Indies

Antigua and Barbuda Falcons have formally apologized to Cricket West Indies after head coach Paul Nixon’s public criticism regarding the handling of all-rounder Justin Greaves’s injury situation during the ongoing Caribbean Premier League.

The franchise released an official statement emphasizing that “there was no intention to offend or undermine the efforts of Cricket West Indies (CWI)” and confirmed that “Nixon totally regrets any and all remarks made.”

“Paul Nixon, head coach of the Antigua and Barbuda Falcons, together with the Falcons’ management, would like to provide clarification regarding recent comments made about Cricket West Indies (CWI) during the ongoing Caribbean Premier League (CPL),” the statement read.

“Both Paul Nixon and the Antigua and Barbuda Falcons apologize for any unintended implications or offense these comments may have caused to CWI management and staff. We remain firmly committed to fostering a strong and collaborative partnership with CWI, one that is grounded in mutual respect and open, constructive dialogue to advance West Indies cricket.”

The apology comes after Nixon publicly criticized Cricket West Indies following his team’s eight-wicket defeat to Trinidad and Tobago on Wednesday (August 27). His frustration centered on the communication breakdown regarding Greaves’s injury status, with the all-rounder having been absent from all seven of the Falcons’ matches this season. Greaves’s last cricket appearance came in the West Indies’ 2-1 ODI series victory against Pakistan in August.

“I’m very disappointed that we’ve had no communication with Cricket West Indies in their backroom department for Greaves to come in to us a bit injured, more than a bit injured. So, that was disappointing. And just before the game, we found out these things,” Nixon had said.

Nixon further stated: “So, for me, that was a bit unprofessional and disrespectful, in a way. But we moved forward. He’s had an injection. That hasn’t worked. I’ve been a bit disappointed by how he’s come back from West Indies cricket, if I’m being brutally honest. The communication was poor around that. So, that’s one of our international all-rounders out, which is tough.”

Nixon was appointed as head coach for the 2025 CPL season, replacing Shivnarine Chanderpaul who coached the team during their debut 2024 campaign. Despite the off-field controversy, the Falcons are currently performing well in the tournament, sitting third on the points table with three wins from seven games and one match abandoned due to rain – a significant improvement from their debut season where they finished fifth out of six teams with just three wins from 10 matches.

The team’s next challenge will be against the second-placed Saint Lucia Kings this morning (August 31), where they will look to continue representing their fans and region “with pride and professionalism” as stated in their apology.