Green and Holder condemn ‘messy’ umpiring after Charles no‑ball incident

Charles was dismissed, caught in the deep while attempting to smash a high full toss. The on‑field umpire initially ruled him out, and Charles walked off, only to be recalled after a third‑umpire review—a decision that left the Tridents players incensed. “The umpires tonight managed the game poorly, in my view,” Tridents captain Chris Green said after the match, which the Patriots won by six wickets. To compound the officials’ difficulties, winning captain Jason Holder aligned himself with Green. “It’s probably a wake‑up call for the umpires to be firmer and more decisive,” Holder remarked.

The incident occurred on the fifth ball of the third over of the Patriots’ chase of the Tridents’ total of 217 for 4. Ramon Simmonds delivered a delivery that was high and targeting the stumps. Charles swung aggressively, mistimed the shot, and Sherfane Rutherford executed a sprawling dive at deep midwicket to pouch the catch. With no no‑ball call from the on‑field umpires, Charles departed the crease.

The Basseterre crowd erupted in protest—the venue is the Patriots’ home ground—and members of the support staff were observed berating reserve umpire Gregory Brathwaite on the sidelines. Ultimately, Charles was recalled after television umpire Carl Tuckett reviewed the incident and overturned the original decision made by on‑field umpires Chris Wright and Zahid Bassarath.

Green and Rutherford, among other Tridents players, then confronted the on‑field umpires, though the decision stood. The resulting free‑hit was dispatched for a six, adding further frustration for the Tridents.

“From the outset, I believed it was a no‑ball because it all comes down to the point of contact, and I thought it was a no‑ball straightaway,” Charles said on the broadcast after his 45‑ball 78 guided the Patriots to their second victory of the tournament. “Controversies can liven up the game, though ultimately the decision rests with the umpires.”

While Charles downplayed the incident, Green offered a starkly different view. “The umpires tonight managed the game poorly, particularly in how a player can leave the field and then be called back,” he said. “That needs to be examined—it’s not a good look for this tournament.”

Green further noted that there had been no communication from the umpires regarding the situation.

“I wasn’t out there in the middle, so I don’t feel I have the full picture,” Holder said. “But for me, it’s just very messy. In the Caribbean we don’t want to see these situations arise. It’s probably a wake‑up call for the umpires to be a bit firmer and more decisive in their decision‑making.”

“It doesn’t look good seeing a player go off the field and then have to be called back on.”

The controversy appeared to spark a resurgence in Charles, who had struggled in the tournament prior to this match. Before this game, his highest score in five innings was 21, and he had only twice managed a strike rate above a run a ball. Following this performance, his average sits at 26.16 with a strike rate of 131.93.

“Well, yeah, I’m a bit late to the party,” Charles joked after the match. “I must say I’ve been seeing the ball well and I’ve been in good form. Confidence is high, but it just wasn’t translating into runs, and that’s cricket. I’m pleased to be back and contributing to the team. Even if I’m a late addition to the party, I hope I can put the side in a strong position.”

The victory lifted the Patriots to fifth place on the points table, while the Tridents remain rooted to the bottom.

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