T&T Coaches disappointed by CWI suspension of Super50 competitions

Trinidad and Tobago men’s head coach Rayad Emrit and women’s coach Merissa Aguilleira have expressed disappointment over Cricket West Indies’ (CWI) decision to suspend the Men’s and Women’s Super50 competitions, as well as the Women’s T20 Blaze, because of financial constraints. Emrit said the suspension was particularly disappointing for the men’s players, many of whom were anticipating the Super50 after a lengthy break from regional competition. “Obviously, it’s disappointing not having Super50,” Emrit said. “The last tournament that we played finished in May and the guys had a very big layoff.”

While some players were involved in the Caribbean Premier League (CPL), others have had little competitive cricket since the last regional tournament ended. “Some of the guys took part in the CPL and the rest who were not part of that are looking forward to playing Super50,” Emrit said. “So, it is disappointing. Again, we know the current situation of CWI and their financial status.”

Aguilleira, a former West Indies Women captain, was equally concerned about the impact of the decision on the region’s female cricketers. “I think I’m really disappointed that the players didn’t get the opportunity to play the T20 matches,” Aguilleira said. “I know it’s something that they always look forward to.” She believes the cancellation is particularly troubling because women’s cricket in the Caribbean already suffers from a lack of playing opportunities. “It is definitely not a step in the right direction,” Aguilleira said. “It’s not where we want to go, not just as a country, but as a region as well.” Aguilleira said the situation needs urgent attention, warning that the lack of competitive cricket could have serious consequences for player development.