Even the best of us make mistakes, and all the time we are learning, and revising our ideas (timid posters take note!)
I discussed this grass with David offline, and he concedes that he was wrong on this occasion.
It seems it does survive here.
Although I have not knowingly seen it here in Cyprus, Desmond Meikle, in his 'Flora of Cyprus', 1977, Vol.2, pp.1866-7, describes Imperata cylindrica as found in most of his divisions of Cyprus, and common on the central north coast. Also growing in 'W. and S. Europe, the Mediterranean region and eastwards to Central Asia...'. He gives the habitat as 'Sandy ground near the sea or inland, sometimes on river banks or by the side sof ditches; sea level to 900ft. alt.'. One of his cited localities is Polis - on my doorstep!
I have also seen Italian distribution maps showing its presence in many provinces.