By Victoria Hamilton 
The Max60 Caribbean T10 League has found itself at the center of a major controversy after multiple matches were abruptly cancelled due to a players’ strike over unpaid salaries. The high-profile tournament, hosted in the Cayman Islands and featuring international stars like David Warner, Shakib Al Hasan, Alex Hales, and Carlos Brathwaite, is now making headlines for all the wrong reasons.
What began as a promising second season for the Max60 Caribbean was thrown into disarray when five matches were called off following reports that most players had not received payments that were contractually due a full month prior to the tournament’s start. Despite fulfilling their commitments, players reportedly reached a breaking point, prompting a coordinated strike that has disrupted the tournament’s final stages.
On Tuesday, the league posted a statement via Instagram attributing the cancellations to “off-field issues,” and surprisingly scheduled a final between the Caribbean Tigers and Vegas Vikings, despite the tournament’s chaos. That post was later deleted, and a revised plan for a “runner-up playoff” between Grand Cayman Falcons and Vegas Vikings emerged on Wednesday—only adding to the confusion.
Support for the players has come from the World Cricketers’ Association (WCA), which condemned the situation and emphasized the growing concern over unregulated cricket events. WCA CEO Tom Moffat criticized the organizers, stating, “Contracts are being treated like worthless pieces of paper. It’s unacceptable to expect players to perform when their agreed payments are ignored.”
Max60 is operated by BMP Sports, a Dubai-based firm claiming global expertise in cricket leagues and franchise operations. Despite the turmoil, the company has yet to respond publicly or provide clarity on the payment issue.
This incident has reignited calls for stronger governance in privately run T20 and T10 leagues, particularly those sanctioned under ICC member jurisdictions. It underscores the urgent need for greater player protections, contractual enforcement, and financial transparency within franchise-based cricket.
As the dust settles on what should have been a celebration of T10 cricket, the Max60 debacle serves as a sobering reminder of the vulnerabilities players face in unsanctioned or poorly managed leagues.
Zainab Shafiq