In a peculiar turn of events, the final match of the 2024-25 Super50 competition in the Caribbean had to be forfeited in extreme circumstances as the captains of both teams failed to turn up for the toss. The concerned umpires had deemed the conditions to be safe enough for a 20-over contest.  

But amidst the gloomy overhead conditions, captains from Jamaica Scorpions and Barbados Pride were concerned about taking the field, and with no one present at the toss, no trophy was awarded and the final had to be forfeited. 

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Skipper Campbell penalized with a four-match suspension for "no show"

The Jamaica Scorpions skipper expressed his regret for not turning up for the Super50 final and apologized for bringing the game to disrepute. He has been reprimanded by Cricket West Indies (CWI) and handed a four-match suspension which will bar him from the upcoming four games of the next Super50 season.

"I sincerely regret any disruption caused during the final and acknowledge that my actions may have been perceived as resistance to the match officials' decision. It was never my intention to undermine their authority or bring the game into disrepute. I fully acknowledge the importance of maintaining the integrity of the game and the need for adherence to the rules and decisions of the officials." 

On the other end of the spectrum, Barbados captain Raymon Reifer is also expected to meet a similar fate. He faces similar charges as Campbell but is yet to respond officially to the charges leveled against him by the match referee Reon King.  

The forfeiture of the Super50 final also meant that no match fees or prize money for the winners or the runners-up was possible to be distributed which was subsequently made clear by the national body. 

More about John Campbell 

The Jamaican-born John Campbell has represented West Indies in all formats of the game. The 31-year-old bats left-handed and generally opens the batting for his national and domestic side. 

While his appearance in the T20I format was very shortlived, Campbell played a major chunk of his games in the red-ball format scoring 888 runs in 20 matches at an average of 26.11. However, in FC cricket, his average jumps to nearly 30 and has managed to slam six centuries and 50 half-centuries under his belt. 

Amidst reports of security threats to the upcoming Twenty20 World Cup in the West Indies, Cricket West Indies (CWI) has moved swiftly to allay fears and reassure stakeholders of the safety measures for the event.

CWI’s Response

In a statement to Cricbuzz, CWI CEO Jonny Graves emphasized their commitment to safety and security, stating, “We work closely with authorities in the host countries and cities, and continually monitor and evaluate the global landscape to ensure appropriate plans are in place to mitigate any risks identified to our event.”

Nature of Security Alert

The security alert, citing Pro-Islamic State (IS) media sources, raises concerns about potential violence targeting sporting events. The alert highlights messages from Khorasan (IS-K), urging supporters to incite violence in various countries.

The security alert states that, “Pro-Islamic State (IS) media sources have launched campaigns inciting violence against sporting events, which included video messages from the Afghanistan-Pakistan branch, ISKhorasan (IS-K) which highlighted assaults in numerous countries and urged supporters to join the battlefield in their countries.”

Actions Taken by Authorities

Caribbean media reports indicate that authorities, including Caricom and security agencies, are actively monitoring and addressing potential threats to the World Cup. Prime Minister Keith Rowley of Trinidad and Tobago affirmed the collaborative efforts to combat the threat.

“We want to assure all stakeholders that safety and security of everyone at the ICC Men’s T20 World Cup is our number one priority and we have a comprehensive and robust security plan in place,” Graves further told to Cricbuzz.

The Twenty20 World Cup matches are spread across several venues in the West Indies, including Antigua and Barbuda, Barbados, Guyana, Saint Lucia, St Vincent and the Grenadines, and Trinidad and Tobago. Additionally, matches will be held in US cities such as Florida, New York, and Texas.

It has been reported that intelligence of a potential threat to the World Cup has been received through Pro-Islamic State (Daesh) through the media group “Nashir Pakistan”. According to Daily Express, Nashir-e Pakistan is an Islamic State group-affiliated propaganda channel.