David Warner stranded in cricket’s ‘Fyre Festival’ as league hits back

David Warner and a host of big-name cricketers have become embroiled in a bombshell scandal that threatens to turn nasty.

David Warner has found himself at the centre of cricket’s version of the ill-fated Fyre Festival scandal.

Warner and 15 other Australian cricketers have been caught up a payment dispute with the Max60 Caribbean League T10 league in the Cayman Islands.

West Indies vs Australia Test & T20I Series | Watch every ball LIVE with ESPN, available on Kayo Sports | New to Kayo? Join now and get your first month for just $1.

The league burst onto the scene in 2024 but less than a year after it’s inaugural season, turmoil has taken over.

Players refused to walk out onto the field to play during the second season over unpaid wages before teams joined in on the strike action.

The ugly dispute has been likened to the infamous Fyre Festival that was billed as an exclusive VIP music extravaganza in the Bahamas, only for it to turn into a nightmare upon arrival.

“It’s very disappointing, what’s happened,” Warner said to the SMH.

David Warner has been caught up in the turmoil of the Cayman Islands league. (Photo by Steve Bell/Getty Images)

Contracts for the league reportedly state players were to be paid 50 per cent of their fees 30 days before the tournament got underway with the remaining 50 per cent to be paid shortly after the tournament wrapped up.

But as the second season got underway and with no money hitting player accounts, games were cancelled as players took action into their own hands.

In a since deleted Instagram post, the league stated matches had been cancelled “due to off-field issues”.

On Friday morning, the league took to social media to hit back amid the turmoil and note that the second payments to players had been “compromised”.

Comments on the post were turned off.

“Firstly, Max60 would like to thank all the hard work and contributions from franchises, Cayman cricket, cayman department tourism & sport, sponsors, players and attending fans through S1 & S2,” the post read.

“It is with a heavy heart that we confirm several games did not proceed. The league was concluded as scheduled on Wednesday 23rd July, and the Caribbean Tigers were declared the winners, making it back-to-back victories.

“The issue of payments has been made and Max60 confirms following:

Max60's post on Instagram regarding player payments. Credit: Instagram/max60cricket

“We understand there were some aggrieved parties that instigated the missed matches. This will be investigated and appropriated action taken in due course to recover damages to the league.

“Max60 has always shown a lot of care/opportunities and respect for players again confirming 100 per cent payment in S1. We appreciate players are aggrieved from various leagues around the world.

“But it is inappropriate to take this stand in the Cayman Islands.”

David Warner and a host of fellow cricketers went on strike over non-payments. (Photo by Steve Bell/Getty Images)

The action of the players striking over non-payments has been supported by the World Cricketers’ Association (WCA).

“It’s disappointing to hear that players still haven’t been paid what they’re owed under their contracts,” Tom Moffat, the WCA’s chief executive said according to ESPNcricinfo.

“Players have fulfilled their commitments in good faith the whole way along, but it’s unreasonable for anyone to expect them to continue to turn up and put on the show if the terms of their contracts have flagrantly been breached.”

Australian Cricketers’ Association chief executive Paul Marsh said legal action against tournament organisers BMP Sports is being explored.

“There have been letters exchanged about the lack of payment and putting organisers on notice, and the players have been communicating consistently with us, and it’s got to where it is now off the back of trying every avenue to get the players’ contracts honoured, and it’s got to a point where it hasn’t been resolved, so the players were not going to keep turning up and playing,” Marsh said.

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. We will obviously explore legal options as well.”

The saga is likely to drag on as players seek their second payment while the league states it will investigate and taken action over the strikes.

Originally published as David Warner stranded in cricket’s ‘Fyre Festival’ as league hits back