A warning to Caribbean cricketers that they could face a one-year ban if they participate in a popular domestic Twenty20 competition in Guyana has seemingly forced organizers of the Hits and Jams Masters to postpone this weekend’s tournament.
Investigations by MIDWEEK SPORT revealed that several high-profile West Indies players, including Chris Gayle, Shivnarine Chanderpaul, Dwayne Bravo, Kieron Pollard, Sunil Narine, Andre Russell and Dwayne Smith were earmarked to play in the second annual tournament at the Providence Stadium from Friday to Sunday.
In correspondence to territorial boards yesterday, West Indies Cricket Board (WICB) acting operations manager Roland Holder made it clear the tournament, which carries a top prize of US$10 000 was not on the list of competitions approved by the regional governing body.
“We wish to advise that the Hits and Jams Masters Tournament in Guyana has not been approved by the WICB,” Holder said. “Hence this tournament is an unsanctioned tournament and all players who participate may face possible sanctions as outlined in the attached document.