The Barbados Cricket Association (BCA) has released the reasoning behind two disputed club cricket rulings as it responds to public criticism of its Complaints and Disputes Committee.
The decisions show that Yorkshire were awarded 16 points and Carlton received none after Carlton used a substitute who was ineligible under the playing conditions, while Wildey were awarded 20 points and Windward received zero after fielding a player who was not a member of the club.
The BCA said public discussion surrounding the outcome and handling of complaints arising during the recently concluded 2026 Elite and First Division competitions had included comments which reflected a lack of knowledge of the rules and complaints process.
It also expressed concern that some comments contained statements which it said could be defamatory of members of its Board of Directors, employees and members of the panels which heard the complaints.
The association said the situation had prompted a change in how it reports decisions, with the public previously informed only of the outcome and any resulting changes to competition points.
“It is the BCA’s opinion that many of these comments reflect a lack of knowledge of the competitions’ rules and the process for hearing those complaints,” the association said.
Yorkshire protest upheld
Yorkshire’s First Division protest arose from its April match against Carlton at the Desmond Haynes Oval.
Yorkshire argued that Carlton breached the playing conditions when a player who had been declared for the club’s Intermediate team against Psychiatric Hospital acted as a substitute in the First Division match on the same day.
Carlton confirmed that the player had been used as a substitute after his other match had finished.
The club argued, however, that his participation did not materially affect the result and pointed to difficulties in finding available substitutes.
Yorkshire maintained that whether the substitute affected the outcome was immaterial because his use breached the rules.
The committee unanimously agreed that a breach had occurred and ruled that Carlton forfeited the match. Yorkshire were awarded 16 points, comprising the 12 full match points and four bowling points they had already earned, while Carlton received zero.
Despite enforcing the rule, the committee itself called for the provisions governing substitutes to be urgently addressed in light of the difficulties clubs face in finding sufficient players.
The matter was also placed before the BCA Board to determine whether any leniency could be extended to Carlton under the rules. Yorkshire’s protest fee was ordered refunded.
Wildey awarded 20 points
The second decision stemmed from Wildey’s protest over Windward’s use of Kyle Ramdoo during their Elite Division match at Dash Valley in June.
Wildey contended that Windward breached the special conditions governing player eligibility.
During the hearing, Windward president Andrew Lythcott said the club had registered Ramdoo but he was subsequently deregistered after it was determined that he was not a member of the club.
According to the committee’s report, Ramdoo arrived in Barbados on June 11, two days before the match began, and there was insufficient time for the process required to admit him to club membership.
The report also revealed disagreement within Windward over the matter, with members of the playing side disagreeing with the decision to deregister the player.
The committee described the situation as “obvious turmoil” within Windward and recommended that the BCA meet with the club in an attempt to reconcile the differing positions.
However, it determined that those internal issues did not change the question before it.
The committee found that Windward had breached the rule stipulating that only bona fide club members may be registered to participate in a competition.
Wildey were consequently awarded the 12 full match points along with four bowling and four batting points they had already earned, taking their total to 20. Windward received zero points and Wildey’s complaint fee was ordered refunded.
BCA rejects interference allegation
Against the backdrop of the two decisions, the BCA strongly rejected allegations that members of its staff influenced clubs or suggested that they lodge complaints.
The association stressed that protests must be filed within 24 hours of the completion of a match and said the suggestion of staff involvement was “just not tenable”.
It also sought to distance its Board of Directors from the complaints process, explaining that when a complaint is received by the Secretariat, available members of the Complaints and Disputes Committee are identified to hear the matter.
Under the rules, no person associated with any of the clubs involved can sit on the panel.
“At no time is the complaint sent to and or discussed with any members of the Board,” the BCA said.
The association also addressed an incident at Empire during the Series 2 Intermediate competition which circulated on social media.
It said the committee had heard the matter and made recommendations to the Board and clubs involved, but would not release details because a minor was involved.
The BCA said making those details public could be detrimental to the child’s future.
(BT/PR)
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