Cricket West Indies (CWI) Director of Cricket Miles Bascombe says the governing body will likely review its playing conditions in response to the recent ball-tampering incident involving three Guyana Harpy Eagles players, with the aim of deterring similar breaches in the future.
Speaking with Naasira Mohammed of Trinidad and Tobago Television (TTT) on Saturday, Bascombe said, “The ICC has gone a different way in terms of how they respond to these attempts, and that’s something we are likely going to study and implement to ensure that we deter any of those types of unwanted behaviours.”
The incident, which occurred during the final round of the 2025 West Indies Championship between Guyana and the Trinidad and Tobago Red Force, resulted in Veerasammy Permaul, Kevlon Anderson, and Ronaldo Alimohammed being found guilty of a Level 2 breach of the CWI Code of Conduct. All three were fined following an investigation by the match officials.
Permaul
While Bascombe emphasized that he was still awaiting the full extent of the findings, he expressed confidence in the match officials’ handling of the matter.
“I’m satisfied that the umpires and the match referee handled the situation to the extent that they were allowed to under the current playing conditions,” he said. “Certainly, you don't want to see any headlines relating to cricket being played in that way.”
He also rejected suggestions that the incident should cast doubt on Guyana’s previous championship titles.
“There were no previous suspicions or reports, and I think it’s unfair to link their past success with what happened in this game. These were isolated incidents caught quite early, and from what we’ve seen, they didn’t have any real significant impact on the outcome.”
Anderson
Guyana Harpy Eagles captain Tevin Imlach, also speaking to TTT, said the team was disheartened by the allegations, particularly given the timing.
“We were obviously disappointed with it because we feel like it wasn't warranted,” he said. “We were being accused of some stuff that I didn't feel was needed—especially in the last game of the tournament. Why would you try to affect such a game?”
Still, Imlach said the team stayed composed and used the controversy as motivation.
“Yes, it put a bit of a damper in our spirits… but at the end of the day, congrats to Guyana. We played unbeaten throughout the tournament and, you know, well done to the guys.”
Red Force head coach Rayad Emrit acknowledged the potential impact of the tampering on the contest but echoed respect for Guyana’s overall performance.
“We would have liked to play a fair game,” Emrit said. “We know how much of an impact ball tampering can have—especially in a four-day game where every session matters. But again, credit to Guyana. They’ve been playing solid cricket all season.”
The incident, now formally adjudicated, may yet prove to be a turning point in how CWI handles disciplinary matters. As the regional board moves to align more closely with global best practices, players across the Caribbean will be under closer scrutiny going forward.