ECB statement on Yorkshire appeal

14 July 2008

Following the statement by the Cricket Disciplinary Appeals Panel, the England and Wales Cricket Board can confirm that the Twenty20 Cup quarter-final will be played between Durham and Glamorgan at the Riverside on a date to be confirmed.

After the hearing at the County Ground, Taunton, today the following statement was issued:

‘Yorkshire claim that the failure to register Azeem Rafiq was the result of a technical oversight, that discretion should be exercised under regulation 2.1 and that the penalties imposed were ‘manifestly disproportionate’.

‘The facts were not in dispute and the panel accept that Yorkshire did not deliberately flout the registration regulations, that the panel find there was a systematic failing of process.

‘The club was aware in 2007 that there were questions as to the player’s immigration status, that they failed properly to check the eligibility for registration, then or thereafter.

‘They still had not done so when they submitted their list of registered players to ECB in April 2008. An application for registration, if made, would have immediately flagged up the problems.

‘The player not being qualified to play for England needs the consent of the ECB Board before he can be registered.

‘Only registered cricketers are governed the discipline and anti-doping regulations. It is, therefore, of the utmost importance that the counties exercise the greatest care over the question of registration so as to avoid the consequences that a breach may attract adverse publicity for the club and the game in general, as happened in this case.

‘Given the serious breach of the regulations the panel find it appropriate to deduct the two points received by Yorkshire in the match against Nottinghamshire though the result will stand.

‘Yorkshire are also required to pay £2,000 in total towards the costs of both hearings.

‘In the exceptional circumstances of this case the panel received and considered submissions from Durham, Nottinghamshire and Glamorgan as to the consequences of any such decision.’

The ECB will make no further statement.