MARK WARD
The Western Province Cricket Association (WPCA) will not be sending a team to participate in the weekend’s Western Cape play-offs of the Cricket South African Community T20 Cup competition.
Clinton du Preez, cricket services manager of WP, has confirmed the semi-final which was scheduled to have been played the past weekend, has been postponed after it emerged that Claremont allegedly fielded an ineligible player.
It is alleged, Englishman George Hargrave was not officially cleared to play for Claremont after he represented Durbanville last season.
While Du Preez did not want to elaborate on the matter because the issue has now been referred for arbitration, he said a hearing was held and a decision was reached. Claremont, who is also the reigning Premier League and T20 champions was, however, not happy with the outcome and have indicated they would seek arbitration.
Rondebosch and Bellville ended in first and second position in Group B respectively, while Claremont and Durbanville ended top in Group A.
According to the playing rules of the association, all players must obtain a clearance from his previous club. It is believed Claremont,, however went ahead to use the services of the player without stipulated clearance.
The latest move has now made it impossible to comply with Cricket South Africa’s timelines for the competition to be met.
This has resulted in Boland’s winner Vredenburg/Saldanha and Pacaltsdorp, who qualified as the Southwestern Districts represented a month ago, having to compete in this weekend play-offs in Oudtshoorn. The national finals will be played in Johannesburg next month.
Meanwhile, in Premier League one-day action, Primrose won their first match of the season when they beat Rylands following an inspirational performance from their coach Qaasim Adams taking a memorable fiver.
Adams, a former Cape Cobras player, has been tasked to lead Primrose’s return to the Premier League and won the match by taking 5/27 in 10 overs to lead his side to a comprehensive 66-run win at the Ryland sports ground on Saturday.
Having won the toss, Primrose reached 249/7 in their 50 overs and dismissed the home-side for 183 in 48.1 overs. Justin Pringle top scored with 82 from 68 balls which included six boundaries and five sixes.
