Durbanville Cricket Club have effectively challenged the Western Province Cricket Association’s decision to forego representation in the 2018 National Club Championship play-off.
The play-off traditionally sees the winner of the WPCA, South Western Districts Cricket and Boland Cricket premier leagues battle for a berth in the tournament proper, which will played in Pretoria in late April.
Earlier this month, after the cancellation of the remainder of the 2017-18 Western Province Cricket Association club season due to the ongoing drought in Cape Town and surrounds, a decision all but assured a WPCA club would not participate in the play-off.
“After consultation with Cricket South Africa, our current stance is that Western Province will forfeit its participation in the regional play-off for the National Club Championship,” said WPCA cricket services manager Clinton du Preez.
Durbanville Cricket Club, however, have suggested a formal vote decide whether or not a WPCA club compete in the play-off.
Durbanville Cricket Club, too, have proposed that if the majority insist a WPCA club represent the province at the play-off, a second vote decide the following:
- Bellville Cricket Club, who won the 2016-17 premier league, represent WPCA at the play-off.
- Durbanville Cricket Club, who won this season’s Ama20 premier league competition and topped the WPCA premier league at the time of its cancellation, represent the WPCA at the play-off.
- One of the 12 premier league clubs, “by luck of the draw”, represent WPCA at the play-off.