In an official statement, the Provincial Directorate of INDER in Matanzas has confirmed that the Matanzas Cocodrilos baseball team was unable to travel to Havana on Monday for a match in the fourth Cuban Elite Baseball League due to a lack of fuel for their assigned bus.
According to a post on Facebook by TV Yumurí, the provincial sports authority, along with local political and government leaders, attempted to find alternative transportation, but these efforts were "ineffective given the limited time and fuel scarcity."
The official statement leaves no room for doubt: the reigning champions of the 64th National Series were simply grounded due to the absence of gasoline.
The National Baseball Commission has decided to reschedule the missed game within the same series, in accordance with tournament regulations.
Recurring Transport Issues in Cuban Baseball
This incident is part of a larger pattern: Cuban baseball has experienced numerous disruptions for the same reason. In March 2024, the Las Tunas Leñadores were stranded in Havana for a week due to transport shortages, and in February 2020, INDER canceled the Cuban basketball league for the same issue.
Even the final of the 64th National Series, held in February 2026, took place at a neutral venue, the Latin American Stadium in Havana, partly because of logistical challenges caused by the energy crisis.
Fuel Crisis Intensifies Nationwide
The national situation exacerbates the problem: the United States blocked a shipment of roughly 250,000 barrels of gasoline and diesel intended for Cuba after the agreement with Vanguard Energy was not authorized, as reported by the New York Times and Democracy Now! in mid-June.
The resulting shortage has severely impacted ground transportation, aviation, and urban services across the island.
What stands out in this case is the explicit institutional acknowledgment: INDER Matanzas openly admitted in writing that the lack of fuel prevented the fulfillment of an official sporting commitment, a rare occurrence for regime organizations to document publicly.
Frequently Asked Questions about Cuba's Fuel Shortage and Sports
Why couldn't the Matanzas baseball team travel to Havana?
The Matanzas baseball team was unable to travel to Havana due to a shortage of fuel for their bus, as officially confirmed by the Provincial Directorate of INDER in Matanzas.
How has the fuel crisis affected sports in Cuba?
The fuel crisis has led to various disruptions in Cuban sports, such as the rescheduling of baseball games and the suspension of the basketball league, due to logistical challenges and transportation shortages.