Created: Sep 13, 2026 02:57 PM (Updated: Sep 14, 2026 06:02 AM)
Somerset coach Janeiro Tucker has criticised BCB (File photograph)
Somerset coach Janeiro Tucker has laid the blame squarely on the Bermuda Cricket Board after his team failed to turn up for the Premier Division Knockout Cup final against St George’s at Wellington Oval on Sunday.
St George’s arrived with a full squad but umpires were forced to call off the 40-over contest shortly after the scheduled start when Somerset failed to appear.
In a Facebook comment posted under The Royal Gazette report on his team’s no-show, Tucker stated that his club had decided to take a stand against the BCB for switching the date of the final from Saturday to Sunday on short notice.
“Let’s see the record straight,” Tucker said.
“The biggest issues facing Bermuda Cricket is leadership and consistency. Too often, decisions appear to be made based on who is asking rather than on a clear set of rules.
“Somerset have repeatedly seen matches rescheduled when other teams were unavailable, yet when similar circumstances affect Somerset, flexibility seems to disappear.
“The final was scheduled for September 12, only to be changed on September 10 via an e-mail from the BCB. Players had already arranged work schedules, changed travel plans and committed to other obligations.
“One player even had an exam on the new match date. Yet the attitude appeared to be simple, play when told or face the consequences. Rules and standards should apply equally to everyone.
“If postponements are permitted for one club, they should be permitted to all clubs under the same circumstances. Clubs and players deserve certainty, not weekly changes and inconsistent decisions.
“Somerset Cricket Club took a stand because enough is enough. The constant shifting of schedules and lack of consistency is hurting the game.
“If Bermuda Cricket is to move forward, it needs transparent leadership, accountability and decisions that put the interest ahead of personal agendas.”
While the Cup Match legend blamed the BCB, the West Enders did not cover themselves in glory during the course of the domestic season as they agreed to share the points without playing in a match against St George’s on August 23 and forfeited their encounter with champions Southampton Rangers a week later.
After the final was postponed yesterday, St George’s captain Sinclair Smith voiced his frustration over the final not being played.
“It’s so disappointing for the season to end like this,” Smith told The Royal Gazette.
“My guys were prepared and looking forward to playing the final, so it’s an anticlimax. But again it’s been a consistent theme for us this year, we’ve had quite a few games postponed due to umpiring issues, so this is a sad ending to the season.
“It’s an indication of the sad state of our cricket right now. There are things we have to work on as far as the cricket board is concerned in terms of scheduling and communication, clubs communicating as well.
Del Hollis, right, the Wellington Oval groundsman, and his trainee LeVontae Smith-Outerbridge pull the stumps after the Premier Division Knockout Cup final was abandoned after Somerset failed to show up (Photograph by Ras Mykkal)
“I think as an overall picture, we just need to know where we’re looking to head as a country, what our focus is and prioritise from there.
“As far as our players are concerned, I have no issues with their commitment. We still had 15 guys training for the last game of the season on Thursday, so it’s just a lot of things we need to fix as a country.”
There were rumours during the course of the week that Somerset, who won their semi-final against Southampton Rangers on the flip of a coin, did not have enough players for the final.
“We heard things in the rumblings, but we never thought it’s going to hang,” the St George’s captain said.
“It’s a final so you’ll think there will be some type of respect for the game and the other team will show up. Again, they have their own reasons for not showing up and I can’t really speak on what’s happening with them right now.
“I know there’s a few things happening on their end that hindered them from having players for the final.”
For Smith and several of his Bermuda team-mates, it was a perfect chance to get valuable game time ahead of their departure on Wednesday for the North American Cup in Cayman Islands.
“I haven’t played any cricket in the last three weeks,” the national team wicketkeeper said.
“It would have been nice to get a nice hit before going away, but whatever happened is beyond our control.”
Efforts to obtain a comment on the abandoned match from Steven Douglas, the BCB cricket committee chairman, were unsuccessful as he had not responded to texts or returned calls at the time of going to press.