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Cricket

Durham 'expect walkover' following T20 fiasco

08/07/2008

Durham county cricket club say they expect to be awarded a walkover following the postponement of last night's Twenty20 match against Yorkshire.

The quarter-final match at Chester-le-Street was called off at the last minute after it was alleged the visitors had fielded an ineligible player - 17-year-old Azeem Rafiq - earlier in the competition.

The England and Wales Cricket Board (ECB) stepped in to demand the match was called off, despite the ground filling up with spectators.

Durham have since released a statement claiming they fear the club's reputation will be tainted by the unfortunate events and have demanded they be allowed to progress to the semi-finals without replaying the match.

"Durham CCC is hugely concerned at last night's events - partly because of the potential direct financial consequences but, more importantly, the damage to the reputation of Durham CCC and cricket, as a whole," the statement reads.

"Durham CCC will argue to ECB that we should be able to proceed to finals day without having to replay a quarter-final in what is already a very busy playing and travelling schedule."

Yorkshire have said they are "disappointed" at the decision to enforce a postponement, and say they are bracing themselves for disciplinary measures as a result of the confusion over Rafiq's paperwork.

"On the basis that [Rafiq] had previously represented England at schoolboy level it had been assumed that he would be qualified to play cricket in this country," a Headingley statement explained.

"The club understand that it is now due to face a disciplinary panel at which it will find out what action the ECB plan to take.

"We deeply regret the inconvenience this matter has caused the fans of both Durham and Yorkshire as well as sponsors, broadcasters and playing staff.

"We hope that this matter will be resolved very soon, at which point we will be able to notify everyone accordingly."