David Warner stranded in cricket's ‘Fyre Festival' as league hits back
Warner and 15 other Australian cricketers have been caught up a payment dispute with the Max60 Caribbean League T10 league in the Cayman Islands.
The league burst onto the scene in 2024 but less than a year after it's inaugural season, turmoil has taken over.
Players refused to walk out onto the field to play during the second season over unpaid wages before teams joined in on the strike action.
The ugly dispute has been likened to the infamous Fyre Festival that was billed as an exclusive VIP music extravaganza in the Bahamas, only for it to turn into a nightmare upon arrival.
'It's very disappointing, what's happened,' Warner said to the SMH.
Contracts for the league reportedly state players were to be paid 50 per cent of their fees 30 days before the tournament got underway with the remaining 50 per cent to be paid shortly after the tournament wrapped up.
But as the second season got underway and with no money hitting player accounts, games were cancelled as players took action into their own hands.
In a since deleted Instagram post, the league stated matches had been cancelled 'due to off-field issues'.
On Friday morning, the league took to social media to hit back amid the turmoil and note that the second payments to players had been 'compromised'.
Comments on the post were turned off.
'Firstly, Max60 would like to thank all the hard work and contributions from franchises, Cayman cricket, cayman department tourism & sport, sponsors, players and attending fans through S1 & S2,' the post read.
'It is with a heavy heart that we confirm several games did not proceed. The league was concluded as scheduled on Wednesday 23rd July, and the Caribbean Tigers were declared the winners, making it back-to-back victories.
'The issue of payments has been made and Max60 confirms following:
'We understand there were some aggrieved parties that instigated the missed matches. This will be investigated and appropriated action taken in due course to recover damages to the league.
'Max60 has always shown a lot of care/opportunities and respect for players again confirming 100 per cent payment in S1. We appreciate players are aggrieved from various leagues around the world.
'But it is inappropriate to take this stand in the Cayman Islands.'
The action of the players striking over non-payments has been supported by the World Cricketers' Association (WCA).
'It's disappointing to hear that players still haven't been paid what they're owed under their contracts,' Tom Moffat, the WCA's chief executive said according to ESPNcricinfo.
'Players have fulfilled their commitments in good faith the whole way along, but it's unreasonable for anyone to expect them to continue to turn up and put on the show if the terms of their contracts have flagrantly been breached.
'This isn't an isolated or new issue. It's another example of an officially sanctioned cricket event treating player contracts like worthless pieces of paper, and of the lack of protections for players who compete in events that have been sanctioned by the ICC or its members.
'There are simple solutions to these issues and the game's global leadership and regulations should protect the whole sport, and people within it.'
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
7NEWS
6 minutes ago
- 7NEWS
Wallabies denied victory by ‘terrible' call in heartbreaking loss to Lions
The Wallabies have suffered a heart-breaking series loss to the British and Irish Lions after letting slip an 18-point lead to crash to a 29-26 defeat in the final minute of their second Test at the MCG. The Australians looked set to level the series after a rousing opening 30 minutes but the Lions roared back with fullback Hugo Keenan scoring with 45 seconds left on the clock for his team to take the lead for the first time in the match. The game ended in controversial circumstances with the Wallabies flanker Carlo Tizzano appearing to have been illegally cleaned out in the build-up to the match-winning try. While the TMO and referee Andrea Piardi reviewed the clean-out by Jac Morgan, he didn't deem it a penalty and the try stood. Former Wallabies centre Morgan Turinui blasted 'weak' referees over the controversial decision. 'The referees were too weak to give it (the penalty),' he said in commentary. 'You cannot hit a guy in the back of the neck to save the ball who is legally jackling. 'The referees have got it wrong. It has cost the Wallabies survival in the series. 'The British and Irish Lions lead this series 2-0. It was brave to come back from them, but it is a terrible decision that decides this match.' Ex-England and Lions skipper Martin Johnson took a contrasting view, but former Wallabies captain Michael Hooper agreed with Turinui. 'I can see what the referee's saying but there's a penalty there, whether it's on head, on neck or whether he's going straight off his feet to ground,' Hooper said on Nine. 'I would say if that was minute one it's a penalty and it was deserved to be awarded and the try overturned. 'If you're refereeing or judging by the letter of the law, minute one to minute 79 it doesn't matter.' Johnson disagreed. 'I didn't think there was enough there for a penalty that would change the game,' he said on Nine. 'You have to be very, very sure to change the game on a ref's decision. 'I thought it wasn't a penalty.' Gutted Wallabies captain Harry Wilson was asked in a post-match interview about the decision but said he 'wasn't in the right emotion to talk about it'. Coming after the Wallabies loss in Brisbane, the Lions will lift the Tom Richards Cup with a third Test still to play in Sydney. The result means the Wallabies are the first team since the 1966 Lions tour to lose the series in two games, with that Australian outfit losing both matches in a two-Test tour. Wilson said he was proud of the way his team played. 'I'm so proud of this team - we were written off, we came out here and put our bodies on the line and was there until the very end,' the No.8 told Stan Sport. 'To lose like that, it hurts. 'I hope everyone at home and everyone here saw what kind of team we had - we are going to keep fighting and keep improving. We just want to do Australia proud. 'I'm gutted there's not going to be a decider but if you think there's not going to be a lot on the line next week you're kidding yourself.' In the Lions' last two visits down under, in 2001 and 2013, Melbourne had been a happy hunting ground with the Wallabies drawing level after first Test defeats. It appeared this series would also follow that script as the hosts came out firing in front of a crowd of 90,307, which was the largest ever to watch a Lions match in Australia. With Will Skelton and Rob Valetini, who sat out the first Test through injury, adding size to the pack, the Wallabies answered their critics and aimed up early in a physical display that had the tourists on the back foot. Two early penalty kicks by Tom Lynagh gave the Wallabies an early six-point lead and a boost of confidence but the Lions were first across the tryline in the 15th minute through hooker Dan Sheehan. Prop James Slipper, only the second Wallaby to have played in two series then scored for an 11-5 lead and everything seemed to be going the home side's way. Lions winger Tommy Freeman was yellow-carded after his team's multiple infringements and the Wallabies then raced out a 23-5 lead with halfback Jake Gordon and fullback Tom Wright both scoring. But the tide started to turn and the Lions closed the gap to 23-17 by halftime, with flanker Tom Curry and centre Huw Jones touching down. The second half was an arm wrestle and a 59th minute try by Tadgh Beirne set up a thrilling finale. The Wallabies showed desperation in defence and it looked like they would hold on for a famous victory but the Lions had the final say.
The Age
6 minutes ago
- The Age
Wallabies v British & Irish Lions: Game 2 Highlights
The Australian Wallbies take on the British & Irish Lions in the second of three games in the 2025 British & Irish Lions Tour at the MCG in Melbourne. Loading
Sydney Morning Herald
6 minutes ago
- Sydney Morning Herald
Wallabies v British & Irish Lions: Game 2 Highlights
The Australian Wallbies take on the British & Irish Lions in the second of three games in the 2025 British & Irish Lions Tour at the MCG in Melbourne. Loading
