(Cricinfo) The Caribbean Premier League’s (CPL) cricket tournament committee has ruled that match referee Denavon Hayles properly applied the relevant rules in the rain-hit CPL final on August 16, which Barbados Tridents won by eight runs via the Duckworth-Lewis method. In a release announcing the committee’s finding, the CPL also confirmed that Guyana Amazon Warriors had indeed filed a complaint – as was widely speculated in the media following the match – “with regard to the outcome of the final”.
It is understood that Amazon Warriors had issues with the officials’ application of the rules regarding the time allotted for the match in the face of several rain delays. The committee had decided on the matter after reviewing the match referee’s report and “the arguments raised by the Guyana Amazon Warriors in their several written representations”. It could now be escalated to the ICC, though, if the “contending parties” wanted as much, the CPL release said.
“Having carefully considered the report of the match referee and the arguments raised by the Guyana Amazon Warriors, the [committee] has concluded that there are no grounds for the result of the final to be reversed or nullified,” chairman of the cricket tournament committee, PJ Patterson, said, adding that the image of the tournament should not be muddied. “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.”
In the rain-marred match, Tridents got to 152 for 6. Amazon Warriors had batted out 15.5 overs in the chase when the rain came down again, and play was eventually ended there.
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, cricket’s world governing body if contending parties still so desire for a ruling that is definitive, transparent and expeditious.
