CPL 2024: Andre Fletcher and Keemo Paul engage in on-field verbal spat

Keemo Paul, and Andre Fletcher. (Source – CPL)

The match seven of the ongoing Caribbean Premier League (CPL) 2024 saw Guyana Amazon Warriors taking on St. Kitts and Nevis Patriots at the Warner Park in St. Kitts. The Guyana-based franchise emerged victorious by 41 runs, but what caught everyone’s attention was a heated on-field altercation between two key players.

The Warriors set the tone early, scoring 266 runs in their allotted 20 overs. Shimron Hetmyer led the charge with a blistering 91 off just 39 balls, including 11 sixes. He was supported by Afghanistan’s Rahmanullah Gurbaz, who smashed 69 runs with six maximums and four boundaries. Their combined onslaught put the Patriots in the backfoot.

Facing a daunting target, the Patriots began their chase with determination. Despite losing Evin Lewis early, captain Andre Fletcher and Sherfane Rutherford kept their team in the hunt with an aggressive partnership.

The moment came in the eighth over of the Patriots’ innings. Keemo Paul, visibly frustrated by captain Andre Fletcher’s free-scoring, attempted to obstruct the batter’s running path. This move did not sit well with Fletcher, who immediately confronted Paul.

The exchange quickly escalated, with both players standing their ground and exchanging in a verbal spat. It took the intervention of teammates and umpires to separate the two and prevent the situation from boiling over.

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The Patriots continued to fight back, but regular wickets in the middle overs disturbed their chase. Despite their best efforts, they were eventually bowled out for 226 in the 18th over, falling short by 41 runs. With this win, the Imran Tahir-led side has secured two wins in two matches and is sitting comfortably in the second position in the standings. For the Patriots, the ongoing tournament isn’t going the way they would have liked, winning just one game out of the four played.