The Western Province Cricket Association will not have a representative at this month’s T20 Community Cup play-off.
Historically, WPCA, Boland Cricket and South Western Districts Cricket’s T20 premier league champions have contested the play-off fixtures – and the winner advanced to the T20 Community Cup.
Why the forfeiture?
However, the play-off will be without a WPCA representative this season. The WPCA have postponed, indefinitely, last week’s T20 premier league semi-finals.
Rondebosch Cricket Club, Bellville Cricket Club, Durbanville Cricket Club and Claremont Cricket Club were scheduled to contest the semi-finals last week.
Durbanville Cricket Club, however, contested the status of Claremont Cricket Club batsman George Hargrave.
Overseas player Hargrave was reportedly not officially cleared by Durbanville Cricket Club to join Claremont Cricket Club for the 2023-24 season. Hargrave played for Durbanville Cricket Club during the 2022-23 season.
Claremont Cricket Club have appealed Durbanville Cricket Club’s report. The appeal’s outcome is pending.
“The WPCA would like to provide an update on the T20 premier league semi-finals and final. Claremont CC have requested arbitration based on a ruling made by the local leagues and appeals committees, which is in accordance to the WPCA constitution’s under dispute resolution,” said WPCA club cricket and facilities coordinator Lindsay O’Malley on Friday, 17 November.
“The request by Claremont CC has a direct bearing on the T20 semi-finals, which therefore makes the semi-finals and final scheduled for 19 November 2023 a non-reality. These matches would now subsequently be rescheduled after the arbitration ruling.
“Disappointingly, after consultation with Cricket South Africa, if the WPCA does not have a winner by this weekend we will forfeit our participation in the Western Cape’s Community Cup play-off scheduled for next weekend in Oudtshoorn.”
SWD’s Pacaltsdorp or Boland’s Vredenburg Saldanha?
Vredenburg Saldanha Cricket Club.
South Western Districts T20 premier league champion Pacaltsdorp United Cricket Club and Boland Cricket T20 premier league champions Vredenburg Saldanha Cricket Club will contest this week’s T20 Community Cup play-off. The winner will advance to the T20 Community Cup.