BRIDGETOWN, Barbados (CMC):

Persistent rain forced organisers to abandon the West Indies women's cricket knockout semi-finals that were scheduled for yesterday and this entire phase of the tournament has been annulled.

Organisers agreed to abandon the rain-hit knockout tournament yesterday amidst some disquiet over the interpretation of the tie-breaking system that decided which teams moved on to the semi-finals.

Rained out quarter-finals on Tuesday when Grenada were listed to face St. Vincent and the Grenadines and St. Lucia would meet Jamaica should have decided the teams to go forward to the semi-finals.

League champions Trinidad and Tobago and runners-up Barbados were automatic qualifiers for the semis, on the strength of their high placing in the league championship.

After the non-playing of Tuesday's matches, Jamaica and SVG were eliminated on the basis of their weak finish in the league - second from last and last, respectively.

The semi-final line-up then was deemed to be T&T against St. Lucia and Barbados facing Grenada but with rainy conditions and unrest among some of the players over the tie-breaking decisions regarding unplayed games, there was no semi-final play.

Organisers met with the teams and formally abandoned the knockout tournament but there is some discussion ongoing about playing some abbreviated limited overs cricket, probably Twenty20 matches among the players today's scheduled last day.

The presentation ceremony, at which Trinidad and Tobago will collect their league title, will be staged this evening at the 3Ws Oval.