The Ama20 Competition premier league final between the University of Western Cape Cricket Club and Western Province Cricket Club, which was scheduled to be played at Newlands in Cape Town on Friday, 8 April 2016, has been postponed.
The deferral was revealed after Western Province Cricket Club appealed a report from the Western Province Cricket Association’s local leagues committee, which claimed the club failed to register spinner Michael Rippon as an overseas player this season.
“It was noticed that WPCC did not register Rippon as an overseas player for the 2015-16 season. WPCC has been found guilty for transgressing by-law five (c),” read a statement from the WPCA local leagues committee.
By-law five (c) states: “The names of all foreign players participating in the WPCA competitions must be registered in writing on the prescribed form (registration of foreign player/s) of the WPCA with the club cricket co-ordinator or his delegate prior to their playing.
“Registration of foreign players may not occur later than 12h00 on the Friday prior to the first day’s play at the commencement of the second half of the season.”
Western Province Cricket Club’s status as champions of the 2015-2016 WPCA premier league, too, has been thrown into doubt as a result of the alleged transgression. Rondebosch Cricket Club, who finished second in the 10-team standings, will likely be awarded the title – if WPCC lose the appeal.
“WPCC will lose all points the club accumulated in one of four two-day competition matches the player represented the club. These points will not be awarded to the opposition, as no complaint was lodged by any opposition and no fine will be imposed on the club,” continued the WPCA LLC statement.
Born and schooled in Cape Town, the 24-year-old Rippon played for the Cape Cobras prior to representing the Netherlands by virtue of his Dutch descent. He was a member of the Dutch squad for the World Twenty20 in India last month. He is the son of Western Province Cricket Club chairman Grattan Rippon.
Saturday, 9 April’s first division A Ama20 Competition final between Edgemead Cricket Club and Claremont Cricket Club, first division c final between Cravenby Cricket Club and Somerset West Cricket Club and first division D final between Elsies River Northlink Cricket Club and Belhar Cricket Club will go ahead as scheduled. Yorkshire Cricket Club and Kuils River Cricket Club, meanwhile, will contest the first division B final, also at Newlands, on Sunday, 10 April.