Cricket clubs threaten lawsuit to stop 2019 league

FIVE top-tier cricket clubs have threatened to stop next month’s national league competition, if the TT Cricket Board (TTCB) does not revise the changes it made.

On Tuesday, attorneys for the five premiership I division clubs – Central Sports, Merry Boys, Powergen, Victoria and Alescon Comets – wrote to the TTCB complaining of the changes made to the cricketing structure for the 2019 season.

In particular, the clubs have an issue with the decision to change the previously two-day league competition to three days and to demote two premiership I clubs to the lower premiership II division. The TTCB premiership I division is the highest division of club cricket.

Attorney Stefan Ramkissoon said the decision was “unlawful” since there was no consultation with the clubs.

In his letter, Ramkissoon said the clubs “vehemently objected” to the decisions, as the abrupt changes in the structure of the league competition would create financial hardship for them because of added costs of funding the increased hours of play.

He also said many of the clubs’ members had full-time jobs and “simply cannot commit to playing competition league cricket on Fridays.”

According to the changes, rounds one, four and seven of the league competition will be played over consecutive days – Friday, Saturday and Sunday – and the other four rounds will be played over two weekends.

The TTCB has also proposed that the seventh and eighth-placed teams will be demoted to the premiership II division at the end of the 2019 season.

Ramkissoon said while the decision made by the TTCB to change the games' format may benefit larger and corporate-backed clubs, it would create problems for the five clubs since their selection pool will be drastically reduced.

“Given the financial situation of the country, declining sponsorship and need for cricketers to also earn a living, this decision is prima facie irrational and unreasonable.”

He said the irrationality was exacerbated by the TTCB’s refusal to pay prize money for the 2018 season.

“It defies logic that the TTCB and its executive would, on one hand, demand more days of cricket from our clients yet refuse to pay prize money and other funds owed.”

Ramkissoon said the TTCB has not only sought to introduce an additional day of play, but also to reintroduce the 50-over competition without raising the prize money for it.

“Our clients are strained financially and are therefore not in a financial position to pay their cricketers for yet another competition.”

Ramkissoon said the TTCB's decision was not in the welfare and interest of promoting cricket locally.

The clubs have asked for disclosure of all material and considerations used by the TTCB before it made its decision.

Ramkissoon said if the board fails to do so, the clubs will go to court seeking an injunction to stop the competition, which bowls off on February 1. The TTCB has seven days in which to respond.

Also representing the clubs are attorneys Dinesh Rambally and Kiel Taklalsingh.