2024 CPL playoffs—Lights, camera … confusion?
The surprise package and dark horse, the St Lucia Kings (SLK), galloped away with this year’s Caribbean Premier League (CPL) title, almost like a thief in the night.
This is a team that lost their final group game to the Guyana Amazon Warriors (GAW) by 35 runs. They were also hammered in match number ten by the same GAW, after being bowled out for 100 and the GAW won the game by six wickets with ten overs to spare. A team that had been all but written off, rallied majestically and won four of their last five games, with their dramatic resurgence being a reminder of just how unpredictable cricket can be.
I always had them to get into the playoffs, but I felt the Trinbago Knight Riders (TKR) and the GAW would have been too strong for them (even though they easily defeated TKR in game number 26 played in Tarouba). It was a plot twist that even the most seasoned cricket fans didn’t see coming.
The playoffs never met the expectations of good, tight cricket which could have gone either way. The Eliminator match between TKR and the Barbados Royals (BR) was absurd and the only thing missing was a comedian telling jokes during the ‘lights break’ because what followed was a piece of nonsense that looked like Lewis Hamilton driving a Cortina in a Formula 1 race. It was a classic case of “all the world’s a stage”, and the stadium was the star of the show, or the “Man of the Match” as Jason Holder rightfully referred to the lights at Providence Stadium in Guyana.
TKR and their loyal fans must feel aggrieved. How can anyone with good cricketing sense come up with the decision to play reduced overs is beyond me. Now, I know some will point out that the officials had to go by the rule book and there was no alternative but to adopt the decision that was taken, but this was a glaring example of the rigidity of the officials and cricket’s rulebook trumping common sense. Some will say that if the shoe was on the other foot, TKR would have taken it. I concur that TKR lost the game according to the rules fair and square but rules are there as a guideline and surely, somebody, somewhere with an ounce of common sense would have asked, “We are here to play cricket, is there an alternative?”
While the officials were undoubtedly following the letter of the law, the spirit of the game was utterly disregarded. A little flexibility should have been considered in a high-stakes playoff match where points are irrelevant and one team is eliminated. Since this was a case of no rain (I am aware that failure of floodlights is treated in the same way as an interruption for rain) and the playing surface was in excellent condition, why couldn’t the two captains be brought together and discuss a resumption of play once the lights were restored and played to a finish? In such extraordinary circumstances, did it matter if the game was played in its entirety and finished at 1 am or 2 am to ensure a fair outcome?
Again, I make the point that the outcome of the game affected no other team but most of the time, officials are blinded by the rules as opposed to what is best for the game. Even though the Duckworth-Lewis system was correct in its figures of giving the BR the ‘oh-so-difficult’ task of getting 60 runs in five overs with all ten wickets in hand, coupled with the first two overs being powerplay overs, the outcome was a foregone conclusion. TKR had as much chance of winning that game as a fish does at riding a bicycle.
I have since seen all over social media TKR fans saying it was a set-up and sabotage. While I don’t subscribe to conspiracy theories, I do blame the powers that be at Providence. I am no electrical expert, but surely with the start of the playoffs, all necessary equipment including lights, lighting towers switches, etc. should have been checked and rechecked, especially considering the lights went out in similar fashion at previous sporting events held at the Providence stadium (three times this has happened before at this very same stadium). With ample time to prepare for the playoffs, it is baffling that basic equipment checks were not conducted. The power outage, while unfortunate, was entirely avoidable and the authorities could have saved themselves the embarrassment. I suppose it could be linked to a car battery just going dead and there is nothing that could have been done.
Another question is, was it that bad of a problem that it took three hours and was fixed just one minute before the cut-off time? No wonder TKR fans were seething. The failure of the stadium’s lighting system, despite previous warnings, was a glaring oversight that cast a shadow over the tournament’s credibility. The entire incident stinks from the highest but a little bit of common sense and dialogue could have resulted in an outcome palatable to all and sundry (except the officials and BR).
On the cricketing front, the BR were never a match for the GAW (who surprisingly lost to the SLK in Qualifier 1) and once de Kock only mustered 15, the writing was on the wall. Rahmanullah Gurbaz, Moeen Ali and Shai Hope took them apart and, as expected, GAW cruised into the final to once again play SLK.
And what a final it was! SLK, through the hardworking Khary Pierre, landed the first blow in the first over when he got rid of the dangerous Gurbaz and GAW lost their way from there. At 97 for seven with 17 balls left, the feeling was that if GAW could score 125, they would have done well. But, through Romario Shepherd and Dwain Pretorius, they belted 37 runs in 16 balls to eventually finish on 138 for 8, hoping that the total would be competitive. Not only was it competitive, but with Faf du Plessis and Johnson Charles back in the dugout and with Roston Chase and Aaron Jones needing 66 runs from 30 balls at a required run rate of 13.20, somebody from the dugout told Jones and Chase that it was time to change gears. They somehow went from first gear into overdrive and the next 2 overs went for 47 runs and the match was as good as over. What a fantastic final!
Congrats to the SLK, worthy champions. I said many times that Faf du Plessis is the best captain in the tournament. His demeanour is calm and he seems to have a great rapport with his players and you could see them wanting to play for him. It was truly a team effort but Noor Ahmed was brilliant throughout the CPL. Let us hope the regional boards are trying to find a good left-arm unorthodox and a good leg spinner to get into the regional teams, as both those types of bowlers are badly lacking in regional cricket.
This year’s CPL turned out to be one of the most competitive ever. In addition to looking at the rules (especially with the playoffs for incidents outside of rain interruptions), the organisers have to find two more franchises to make the competition even more competitive going forward. This would not only increase the depth of talent but also provide more opportunities for emerging players.
Before closing, my pet peeve is with this “umpires call”. When will that nonsense stop? If the ball is hitting any part of the stumps from Hawkeye’s view, the batsman is out except if the umpire says not out. If however, the umpire had given the batsman out, he is out. It’s a rule that seems to exist solely to add an extra layer of drama and uncertainty to the game. Perhaps it’s time for a new rule: “If Hawkeye says it’s out, it’s out, full stop”. Figure that nonsense out!
The 2024 CPL was a season filled with surprises, drama, and a healthy dose of talent. While the officials may need to loosen up a bit and the Providence Stadium might need a new set of lights and electrical equipment, the tournament overall was a resounding success. The St Lucia Kings’ triumph was a fitting end to a season that will be remembered for its unpredictable nature and the unforgettable moments it produced. And who knows, maybe next year we’ll see even more unexpected twists and turns. I suppose with that, it’s ‘lights out’ for us all and this year’s CPL.
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