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Yorkshire official takes blame for Rafiq debacle
YORKSHIRE chief executive Stewart Regan has taken the blame for the registration mix-up involving 17-year-old Barnsley youngster Azeem Rafiq that led to the postponement of Monday's Twenty20 quarter-final with Durham.
He admitted yesterday "the buck stops with me" after taking responsibility for the club's failure to complete the correct paperwork for Rafiq, who was born in Pakistan and moved to England in 2001.
Regan claims the ECB were prepared to backdate the player's registration before they discovered he did not hold a valid passport.
"Ultimately, the buck stops with me, I'm responsible for running the club," said Regan. "I have apologised personally to those involved here," he said.
Asked whether he would consider his position, he countered: "I don't think making a scapegoat of someone is what this matter is all about."
Yorkshire face a disciplinary hearing tomorrow to determine their fate in the wake of the ineligibility scandal which has rocked the competition.
However, the matter could rumble on even after the official ruling is made.
A disciplinary commission panel will meet at Old Trafford to decide on the issue of academy player Rafiq playing in the final group match against Notts which Yorkshire won.
The club not only neglected to register the player as a first-teamer with the ECB but it then emerged he does not hold a British passport.
Monday's quarter-final at Durham was postponed minutes before the start after the ECB launched an investigation when the matter came to light.
Durham chief executive David Harker has stressed the club will appeal against any decision by the ECB to rearrange Monday's match.
The only date the ECB have recommended to Durham for a rematch is July 21, the day after the county play a Pro40 League game at Middlesex.
However, there appears to be a precedent for the current situation after Gloucestershire and Worcestershire were ordered to replay a match in which the latter had fielded an ineligible player. So, Notts and Yorkshire could be asked to replay their group game.
Harker, however, has called for Yorkshire to be thrown out and Durham given a place at finals day.
"The only fair outcome now is that we go to the finals, and if it's a result of Yorkshire being kicked out then so be it," Harker said.
"Any other solution which doesn't have Durham automatically proceeding to the finals day is going to further disadvantage us and that can't be right."
Other options open to the disciplinary panel tomorrow include fining Yorkshire and/or reinstating Notts or even Glamorgan in the competition in their place and then they would play Durham.
The Welsh county finished third in their section only missing out on qualification because their fellow third-placed teams had claimed more points.
"If Yorkshire are thrown out Glamorgan would seize the chance to replace them," said the county's chairman Paul Russell.
Notts chief executive Derek Brewer said he would follow the disciplinary meeting closely.
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Saturday 26 May 2012
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