Twenty20 quarter-final postponed

7 July 2008

The Twenty20 Cup quarter-final between Durham and Yorkshire was postponed after the England and Wales Cricket Board today received allegations that Yorkshire had fielded an ineligible player in a crucial Twenty20 group match.

In a Twenty20 group match on June 27, 2008 at Trent Bridge between Yorkshire and Nottinghamshire, Yorkshire fielded Azeem Rafiq, who is alleged to be an unqualified cricketer.

The match between Yorkshire and Nottinghamshire decided which team qualified for the Twenty20 Cup quarter-finals.

As soon as the allegations were received by the ECB it was agreed to convene a panel of the Cricket Disciplinary Commission.

After investigation this morning the board’s legal advisers confirmed that the player was not eligible to be registered as a qualified cricketer.

The ECB made it clear to both counties that in view of the alleged ineligibility of Rafiq that it was possible that the panel could order the replay of any match or matches which could affect any quarter-final.

The ECB is convening a meeting of the panel as a matter of urgency so that any relevant matches will be played before Twenty20 finals day at Southampton on July 26, 2008.

The ECB shares the disappointment of all the spectators who travelled to the Riverside that the Twenty20 Cup quarter-final was unable to be played.