Sport View by Neil Kumar

It is most unfortunate for the cricket fraternity around the world and Guyanese, in particular, to accept the decision taken by the “Caribbean Premiere League” – Cricket Tournament Committee (CTC) in respect to the glaring and unacceptable decision that cheated the Guyana Amazon Warriors in this year’s 2014 CPL final.It cannot be denied that the 2014 CPL Tournament was well organised and the massive spectators support was spectacular in Guyana.
Thousands of Guyanese at home and in the diaspora rallied behind the Amazon Warriors and cannot accept the blatant disregard for the rules of the game and the bad decision to award the final to the Barbados Trident.
Immediately after the match was awarded to the Barbados Tridents, the Amazon Warriors challenged the decision. It was heartbreaking to watch the reactions of fans in St. Kitts and the mammoth crowd in the ground as they displayed their utter disappointment with the results of the match.
Thousands of spectators around the world particularly at home and in the ground in St. Kitts publically protested and spoke out against the decision.
Thousands of followers on Social Media are voicing their opinion and vehemently condemning the decision of the Cricket Tournament Committee (CTC).
It is amazing to know that both the CTC and the CPL said they do not object to the matter being referred to the International Cricket Council (ICC), the games world governing body, for a ruling that is definitive, transparent and expeditious. These words clearly suggest that the CTC’s decision was arrived at with a great degree of doubt.
A petition website has been launched in support of the Amazon Warriors Challenge.
Thousands of followers are expressing their support for the Amazon Warriors. They are calling for the reversal of the decision and for the game to be awarded to the Amazon Warriors.
Unfortunately the CTC ruled that the result of the rain affected final stands, although there has been mounting pressure from thousands of fans worldwide for the results to be in favour of the Amazon Warriors.
Imminent personalities, highly respected analysts and commentators along with administrators and sport enthusiasts are also voicing their opinions against the decision to award the game to the Tridents.

The winning team collected a hefty purse. But what is more significant is the fact that the winning team in this year’s Caribbean Premier League will play in the Champions League T20 Championship in India..
The Amazon Warriors’ Franchise Owner, Manager, Coach and Administrative arms must be more aggressive and demand that the Guyana Amazon Warriors be the only team from the Caribbean to play in the Champion League Championship.
The Franchise Owners need to “fresh up” our thousands of Limacol supporters. A Strong petition must be sent immediately to the West Indies Cricket Board and the International Cricket Council (ICC) for them to bring this matter to a just conclusion.
The playing conditions and rules clearly stipulate that there is a penalty for slow over rate. When rain stopped play at 19:54 (7:54pm) only 15.5 overs were completed. This clearly reveals that there was a very slow over rate by the Barbados Tridents and this was not dealt with by the umpires.
The fact is that after the rain interruption, the covers were removed, mopping up was completed and the stumps were back in position and ready for play.
The fourth umpire also indicated the restart of the game. Both match umpires went on to the field when the stumps were up and ready for play. However the devil took over and after deliberate delays, the match was unfortunately awarded to the Tridents.
These most ungentlemanly tactics must not be accepted, as cricket has always been a Gentleman’s game. The Spirit of the game itself calls for an immediate resolution to this issue.
It is important that more explicit statements and explanations should be made by the relevant authorities. Many persons are still not clear about the rules and playing conditions governing the Limacol Caribbean Premiere League.
The blanket expressions cannot suffice; people need explanations; people need information; people need to be guided with respect to the outcome of the final game. The truth is of absolute necessity. If there were wrong doings let them be known; if there were dishonest actions, the perpetrators must be exposed and brought to justice.
If there is a need to re-visit the rules, regulations and playing conditions, then this must be done with urgency, so as to ensure that any changes required are immediately implemented, thus, eradicating any doubts and or embarrassment to anyone.
The phrase “it’s just not cricket” was coined in the 19th century to refer to unfair or unscrupulous acts in any aspect of life. Today, it is indeed unfortunate that I must say the CPL 2014 Final was Just Not Cricket!
We need to ensure that cricket, whatever form of the game, remains as it has always been- ‘A Gentleman’s Game’.