Durbanville Cricket Club’s suggestion that the Western Province Cricket Association not forego representation in the National Club Championship play-off has been rejected.
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 2018.
In January, 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,” WPCA cricket services manager Clinton du Preez said at the time.
Durbanville Cricket Club later suggested a formal vote decide whether or not a WPCA club compete in the play-off.
Durbanville Cricket Club, too, 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 Competition premier league final 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.
That vote took place on Wednesday, 28 March, when 19 opted for and 39 against, ultimately leaving the Western Province Cricket Association without representation in the regional play-off.
Union Stars Cricket Club and Wellington Cricket Club will represent South Western Districts Cricket and Boland Cricket, respectively, at the National Club Championship play-off.