No winners in frustrating end to Super50

TAROUBA, Trinidad (CMC):

IN A surprising and anticlimactic conclusion to an otherwise thrilling CG United Super50 Cup 2024, both finalists, Barbados Pride and Jamaica Scorpions, failed to take the field, leading to a double forfeit and the decision to declare no champion.

Cricket West Indies (CWI) officially announced that due to the forfeiture, there would be no title awarded for the tournament. The decision followed a rain-affected match day on Saturday that rendered the conditions too difficult to play.

As a result, the anticipated prize money of US$100,000 for the champions and US$50,000 for the runners-up will remain unclaimed. Both semi-finalists, who were set to earn US$25,000 each, will still receive their prize money.

The final had been scheduled for a 1:00 p.m. start, but scattered showers began around midday, delaying play. The ground was deemed unfit for play, forcing an indefinite delay.

Match referee Reon King, in consultation with the umpiring team, set the latest possible start time for 6:17 p.m. The late start would also prompt the match to be reduced to 20 overs.

Under the tournament’s playing conditions, if no play was possible, or if the match was abandoned or ended in a tie, both teams would be declared co-winners.

By 5:45 p.m., the officiating team deemed the conditions safe enough to proceed with play, and the toss was scheduled for 6:00 p.m.

However, despite confirmation from the umpires and match referee that the situation was safe for play, neither team’s captain showed up for the toss.

As the clock ticked past the latest permissible start time, both teams effectively forfeited the match, and the final was called off.

Earlier in the tournament, Barbados Pride had earned their place in the final with a dominant victory over the defending champions, Trinidad and Tobago Red Force. Jamaica Scorpions had advanced by defeating the Leeward Islands Hurricanes in their semi-final.

Word coming out of Tarouba is that both teams disagreed with the umpire’s decision that play was safe to begin, forcing them to side with players’ safety as the reason for their refusal to start the game.