Controversy over 'ineligible' player

Updated 08.45 Tue Jul 08 2008

Keywords: azeem rafiq, durham cricket, durham, yorkshire cricket, yorkshire, twenty20 cricket, twenty20 cup, twenty20, sport, cricket

The Twenty20 Cup quarter-final between Yorkshire and Durham was postponed because of an investigation over the eligibility of a player.

Fans had already arrived at the Riverside for the match when it was announced the England and Wales Cricket Board (ECB) is investigating the possibility Yorkshire fielded an ineligible player earlier in the competition.

"I do not think we could have done any more" - David Collier

As a result, the match was called off immediately and the ECB's disciplinary commission will meet on Thursday to discuss the possibility that 17-year-old Azeem Rafiq had not been registered as a first-class player before the group match against Nottinghamshire.

The ECB's chief executive David Collier said: "The panel has wide-ranging powers and that can lead into all sorts of areas, whether that be fines, disqualification, replaying the match, it is up to the panel to determine."

Gloucestershire and Worcestershire were once ordered to replay a match because Worcestershire had fielded an ineligible player, but it would be difficult to replay the match between Yorkshire and Nottinghamshire now the competition has moved on and the qualifiers have been decided.

Collier regretted the decision to postpone the match at short notice but insisted there was no alternative.

He added: "I don't think we could have done any more than what we've been doing.

"It has been a mad rush. The worst would have been to just ignore it and act as though nothing had happened and let the game go ahead with the knowledge that the game may well have to be replayed.

"We were aware of the situation this morning and immediately spoke to all the correct people.

"Clearly, it's not ideal when these sort of situations occur on the day of such a major match."

Questions have also been raised about Rafiq's nationality, even though he has captained England under-15s and played for the country at other levels.