North East action hurts Masters Cricket organisers

The decision by the hierarchy of the North East team, not to contest the final of the SVG Masters T/20 Cricket final, last Sunday, November 26, has left organisers “disappointed“.

The grand final between 2022 champions – Royal SVG Police Force (RSVGPF) and North East set for the Sion Hill Playing Field never got started because the pitch was deemed not fit for play.

Chief organiser of the competition for the past 14 years, Selwyn Allen, told journalists that the pitch was prepared on Friday, November 24, and covered, but did not get the final sprucing usually done on Sunday morning.

“There were some damp areas on the pitch because of sweating, and because of the two days in which the pitch was covered… . Additionally, some grass was growing on the pitch, but that was acceptable”, Allen explained.

He noted that all other preparations were carried out, such as the marking of the creases, as well as the 30 yards circle.

Allen revealed that at the point of taking the toss, North East’s captain Deighton Butler refused to participate, lamenting the state of the pitch.

Giving account of what transpired, Allen said: “ He (Butler) said that the wicket was under prepared and he needed to be guaranteed that if anything happened to his players [that they would covered against injury], that was the only way he would play the game”.

According to Allen, Butler referred to the law officers, whom he said were on duty, hence, they could play, noting that they are “covered”.

Allen disclosed that they were left with no other choice but to award the match to the police team, given that umpires Cornelius Edwards and Chelson Stowe had already concluded that the pitch was playable.

Meanwhile, Edwards confirmed, “The pitch was not in perfect condition, but it was playable”.

He also affirmed that the decision on whether the match could have gone ahead was in the hands of the two umpires.

Given the unsavoury outcome of the final, Allen concluded that in his estimation, it was the worst situation that ever occurred in the history of the competition.