The Organisers of the 2014 Limacol Caribbean Premier League T20 have found there is no ground for the protest by the Guyana Amazon Warriors over the result in the finals of the CPL and will not alter the decision which awarded the match to the Barbados Tridents.
The CPL statement follows:
The Caribbean Premier League having received and considered the formal complaint made to it by the Franchise Owners of the Guyana Amazon Warriors with regard to the outcome of the finals played on Saturday 16th August at Warner Park in St. Kitts referred the Match Report to the Cricket Tournament Committee (CTC) for its decision.
The CTC has carefully considered the report of the Match Referee and the arguments raised by the Guyana Amazon Warriors in their several written representations and has now completed its review.
The CTC findings are as follows:
The Match Referee properly applied the rules regarding the time allotted for the Match.
· The CTC references paragraph 6.2 of Section 3A of the CPL Tournament Rules which expressly precludes a team from objecting to the result of a match on the ground of any decision made by any Umpire or the Match Referee. This rule is intended to bring finality to matches.
· The Match Referees report clearly indicates an enquiry by Damien O Donohoe CEO of CPL and Charles Wilkin QC member of the Tournament Committee if in the interests of the Game and especially the fans the full match could be played without resort to the Duckworth-Lewis rules. To this, the consent of both Captains was required and that was not forthcoming. Hence they were informed that, according to the Playing Conditions they did not have the authority to make such a ruling.
· In the circumstances, the CTC has no authority nor does it find good reason under the CPL Tournament Rules to reverse the result or declare the match a nullity. Accordingly the CTC has ruled that the final result stands.
· Further the CTC and the CPL management would offer no objection to the matter being referred to the ICC, crickets world governing body if contending parties still so desire for a ruling that is definitive, transparent and expeditious.
Chairman of the CTC, Most Honourable Mr. PJ Patterson, comments; Having carefully considered the report of the Match Referee and the arguments raised by the Guyana Amazon Warriors the CTC has concluded that there are no grounds for the result of the final to be reversed or nullified.
He concludes; The CPL has succeeded in reinvigorating the passion for cricket across the region and has in two short years established its own distinctive brand and earned exciting market appeal. Nothing must be done to impair its image or erode its credibility.
The Caribbean Premier League management would like to take this opportunity to express its sincere thanks to everyone involved in the CPL; players, event teams, team owners, sponsors, host countries and above all the fans for their amazing support. The CPL is a fantastic tournament which showcases the very best that the Caribbean has to offer on the world stage and each and every member of the CPL family is proud to be a part of it.
