In the spirit of fairness, organisers of the Bermuda Smash Invitational cricket tournament have vowed to find a replacement for professional overseas player Jamal Richards, ensuring the Pembroke Panthers squad is back to full strength.

While Smith’s Sixers, Sandys Spartans and Hamilton Parish Hurricanes have enjoyed the advantage of fielding a full complement of three professional players during the opening weekend, the Panthers have managed to remain unbeaten with just two overseas stars.

The Panthers have been hit hard by overseas player unavailability, with West Indian fast bowler Kelvin Pittman and rising Malaysian star Virandeep Singh both late withdrawals. Fabian Allen and Richards were expected to join Gerald Erasmus as the team’s overseas trio, but so far only Allen and Erasmus have taken the field.

During live commentary on Bermuda Sports Radar’s broadcast of the Panthers versus Hurricanes match, Jekon Edness assured fans that a replacement for Richards, who dislocated a finger in training, will soon be brought in.

“We won’t allow Panthers to go on down a pro,” said Edness, a cofounder of both the online platform and BSI.

“That news will come out in the next day or so, whereby Richards will be replaced. We want all teams to be fair in quality.”

Ironically, the Panthers still managed to pull off a victory against the defending champions on Sunday, thanks largely to the outstanding performances of Erasmus and Allen in the field.