American Premier League (Photo Source: Twitter)
Ahead of the semi-finals in the ongoing American Premier League (APL), organiser Jay Mir was spotted having a heated argument with the hotel staff in Houston. Abusive language was used but the details behind the verbal fight are yet to be known. As per reports, the umpires also refused to take the field ahead of the semi-finals. The organisers are said to have called the police as well but no arrests were made but “they were thrown out of the ground” as per a statement.
More drama from the team hotel. American Premier League organizer Jay Mir is seen here in a profanity laced exchange with hotel desk staff that are housing the visiting teams in Houston, Texas. https://t.co/rzodjRUVSg pic.twitter.com/mIcJjtnIm2
— Peter Della Penna (@PeterDellaPenna) December 30, 2023
APL, on their social media handle, mentioned that the umpires have held the semis hostage, alleging that Danny Khan, Vijaya Prakash Mallela and Brian Owens were “blackmailing” the organisers and demanding more money for officiating in the knockouts. The organisers clarified that the umpires were paid a downpayment of USD 30,000 but they refused to take the field nonetheless.
“The Umpires were paid a down payment and they held the semifinal hostage and black mailed the owner in shelling out 30k or else no match. Danny Khan, Vijaya, Brian Owens were told that they cannot black mail and hold the semi hostage as an umpire but these greedy umpires didn’t budge at which point they were asked to leave so the match goes on and they refused and held the match hostage at which point cops called,” APL wrote on their X (formerly Twitter) account.
“And these greedy umpires were thrown out of the ground. An umpire should never hold a match hostage especially when they know it’s the playoffs and black mail the league owner into submission,” the post added.
Danny Khan ,Vijaya ,Brian Owens were told that they cannot black mail and hold the semi hostage as an umpire but these greedy umpires didn’t budge at which point they were asked to leave so the match goes on and they refused and held the match hostage at which point cops called
— American Premiere League (APL) (@APLCRICKETUSA) December 31, 2023
And these greedy umpires were thrown out of the ground .
An umpire should never hold a match hostage especially when they know it’s the playoffs and black mail the league owner into submission.
So please get the other side of the story first before posting a one sided story— American Premiere League (APL) (@APLCRICKETUSA) December 31, 2023
Renowned cricket journalist Peter Della Penna later shared the statements of the umpires in which Vijaya narrated the entire story. It was claimed that the umpires have not been paid for their services and the cops were called on them after they demanded their pay.
“I am Vijaya Prakash Mallela, one of the ICC Panel Umpire from the USA. It was a pleasure working with the teams for the last 10 days. Sorry, this has to end this way with umpires not getting paid about $30,000.00 balance, after paying our own expenses. Police were called on us when we demanded the payment towards our services and expenses. We had no choice, but leave. Good luck to all of you in your future endeavours,” Penna shared a screenshot of her words.
Here’s another update from the drama unfolding in Texas today at the American Premier League T20 cricket event. Umpires who had the cops called on them by APL official for not taking the field say they refused to take the field because they were owed… Approximately $30,000. https://t.co/rzodjRUVSg pic.twitter.com/VaK5WLeyXM
— Peter Della Penna (@PeterDellaPenna) December 30, 2023
Meanwhile, Premium Indians defeated Premium Pakistan by six runs in the first semi-final. Rahkeem Cornwall hit 41 runs off 20 deliveries for the Indians while Amad Butt, Sunny Patel and Adil Bhatti picked up two wickets each.