CPL Controversy: Russell Fumes as Floodlight Farce Robs Knight Riders
West Indies all-rounder Andre Russell has expressed outrage over the controversial floodlight situation that led to Trinbago Knight Riders’ elimination from the Caribbean Premier League (CPL) Eliminator against Barbados Royals.
During the match, Knight Riders were in a commanding position at 168 for 3 in 19.1 overs when three of the six floodlights at the Providence Stadium in Guyana abruptly went off. The match was halted at 8.58pm, leaving players and fans in limbo.
After nearly two hours of delay, the power was restored at 10.51pm, just 10 minutes before the cut-off time for a five-over match. Using the Duckworth-Lewis-Stern (DLS) method, the target for Royals was revised to 60 runs off five overs.
South African power-hitter David Miller led Royals to a comfortable victory, blasting an unbeaten 17-ball 50 to seal the win with four deliveries to spare.
Russell, who was batting on 20 when the lights went out, took to Instagram to vent his frustration. “Am not the person to come on the internet and voice my opinion but this year CPL I feel robbed,” he wrote. “This light situation was ry lights came on just before the cut off time is also ry and then 60 off 30 balls is also a bigger ry.”
Knight Riders captain Kieron Pollard was more measured in his reaction, acknowledging that the umpires had informed the teams about the minimum overs needed for a result and the cut-off time. However, he expressed disappointment that the match could not be resumed under insufficient light.
“If the floodlights were not restored, then Knight Riders, based on their superior position on the points table, would have gone through,” Pollard said. “But once the lights were back, I was always ready and willing to play within the rules of the game and did not mind the five-over match.”
Royals captain Rovman Powell admitted that his team was fortunate to advance. “We knew it was our game to lose; five over 60 runs, not very difficult,” he said. “It was unfortunate for Knight Riders to be on the wrong side of luck.”
The Guyana Ministry of Culture, Youth and Sport and Guyana Power and Light Inc. (GPL) later issued a joint statement explaining that a technical fault in the underground cable supplying power to one of the floodlights caused the delay.