CAYMAN ISLANDS – What began as a player boycott over unpaid fees has now escalated into a potential legal standoff between players, agents, and the organizers of the Max60 Caribbean tournament.
Just days after players refused to take the field citing unpaid wages, the final day of the tournament descended into further confusion. Several scheduled matches were abruptly canceled, the tournament’s “final” was reshuffled twice, and organizers issued a public statement blaming “aggrieved parties” for disrupting the event—while simultaneously admitting that player payments had been “compromised.”
The ongoing saga has triggered an international backlash, with both the World Cricketers’ Association (WCA) and the Australian Cricketers’ Association (ACA) now exploring legal options against tournament organizer BMP Sports.
Matches Canceled, Final Scrapped, Champions Declared Anyway
Tuesday’s scheduled matches were canceled after players refused to play due to non-payment, as first reported by Cricexec. On Tuesday evening, Max60 posted on Instagram that all games had been canceled “due to off-field issues” and announced a final would be held Thursday between the Caribbean Tigers and the Vegas Vikings—teams ranked first and third on the league table.
That post was later deleted.
By Wednesday morning, the so-called “final” was quietly replaced by a runner-up playoff between Grand Cayman Falcons (fifth in the standings) and the Vegas Vikings, with no explanation provided to players or fans.
In the end, no final match was held. The Caribbean Tigers were declared back-to-back champions based solely on their position atop the table.
Payments “Compromised,” Comments Disabled
On Thursday, Max60 posted a graphic to Instagram attempting to clarify the financial situation and confirmed the tournament’s abrupt conclusion:
“It is with a heavy heart that we confirm several games did not proceed… The Caribbean Tigers were declared the winners, making it back-to-back victories.”
View this post on Instagram
The post claimed:
The Season 1 player purse of $1.25 million had been paid in full
For Season 2:
Broadcasters, production, and umpires had been paid in full or up to date
Players’ first payments had been made, with “proof of payment” available
Second payments were “compromised”
Final payments would be due 30 days after the event
The post concluded with a sharp rebuke of the players:
“We understand there were some aggrieved parties that instigated the missed matches. This will be investigated and appropriate action taken in due course to recover damages to the league… But it is inappropriate to take this stand in the Cayman Islands.”
Notably, comments on the post were turned off, limiting public response.
Agents Dispute Organizer Claims
Despite Max60’s claims that “players’ first payments [were] paid,” multiple agents contradicted the announcement.
One agent, speaking anonymously, told Cricexec that none of their players had received any portion of the first payment by Thursday night. Another agent said all of his players had received their first installment, but now expected no more.
The conflicting accounts only deepen the crisis and suggest that even among teams and players, the situation was inconsistent and unclear.
Legal Storm Brewing
The incident has now caught the attention of major global player associations. Speaking to Cricexec earlier in the week, Tom Moffat, CEO of the World Cricketers’ Association, condemned the lack of accountability:
“It’s unreasonable for anyone to expect [players] 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.”
Now, the Australian Cricketers’ Association (ACA) has weighed in, with chief executive Paul Marsh confirming that legal action is being explored.
“There have been letters exchanged about the lack of payment and putting organisers on notice,” Marsh told the Sydney Morning Herald. “It’s got to a point where it hasn’t been resolved, so the players were not going to keep turning up and playing.”
“It’s not good for the sport when an event ends up in this position, so there needs to be stronger regulation around these types of things, and the sanctioning process.”
Organizers May Pursue Legal Action Too
In a stunning twist, BMP Sports is also threatening legal action—but not against itself.
The same Instagram post that confirmed payment delays also suggested that legal steps may be taken against those who “instigated the missed matches”, potentially referring to players, agents, or team representatives.
It’s a rare moment in global sport: players and organizers both signaling legal action—against each other.
What Happens Next?
The tournament may have ended, but the fallout is far from over. Players are still awaiting payment, agents are considering litigation, and BMP Sports is signaling retaliation.
For the second time in a week, the Max60 saga has exposed a harsh truth about modern franchise cricket: despite growing revenues and ICC sanctioning, player contracts remain dangerously unprotected.
As legal teams prepare their next moves, so too must cricket’s global leadership—lest the sport continue to lurch from tournament to tournament with no accountability, and plenty of unpaid promises.
