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Gough "distraught" after Yorkshire thrown out of Twenty20

10/07/2008

Yorkshire captain Darren Gough has revealed his "distraught" at his team's expulsion from the Twenty20 Cup.

Gough's men were penalised for fielding an ineligible player – 17-year-old Azeem Rafiq – in their final group game against the Nottinghamshire Outlaws.

Pakistan-born Rafiq was not a registered first team player and he doesn't have a British passport.

The England and Wales Cricket Board have decided that Nottinghamshire will replace Yorkshire and play Durham in the quarter-finals.

"I'm distraught to be honest. I've spoken to a few players and we're all very disappointed about the decision," Gough told BBC Radio 5 Live. "I'd put money on Yorkshire appealing though.

"I'm retiring at the end of the year and I'm gutted. We were playing very well in this competition and financially the boys could miss out hugely."

It has been a tough week for England legend Gough, who it seems will not get to play a domestic final in his last season after Yorkshire lost to Essex in the Friends Provident semi-finals last Saturday.

As for the Twenty20 Cup, things are probably going to get even more complicated as Durham are expected to appeal the decision to make them play the quarter-final against Nottinghamshire.

Durham wanted to get a bye to the semi-finals and claim that they have a packed schedule which will make it difficult for them to play an extra game.