ECB to rule on game that never was
![](https://static.standard.co.uk/s3fs-public/thumbnails/image/2012/01/03/09/azeem-rafiq-paperwork-yorkshire-ineligibility-415x275.jpg?crop=8:5,smart&quality=75&auto=webp&width=1024)
Yorksire will discover their fate later today after an England Cricket Board hearing at Old Trafford into the ineligibility row which forced Monday's last-minute postponement of their Twenty20 Cup quarter-final at Durham.
The county have already accepted responsibility for the mix-up over academy player Azeem Rafiq and the problems with his paperwork.
Rafiq, 17, played in the Twenty20 group match against Nottinghamshire last month but Yorkshire had neglected to register the player as a first-teamer with the ECB. It then emerged he did not hold a British passport, even though he had captained England's Under-15s.
Durham have called for Yorkshire to be thrown out of the competition and for them to go through to finals day at the Rose Bowl on 26 July.
"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," said Durham chief executive David Harker.
So far, the only date the ECB have recommended to Durham for a rematch is 21 July, the day after the county play a Pro40 League game against Middlesex. Other options include fining Yorkshire and/or reinstating Nottinghamshire or Glamorgan in their place.
Meanwhile, Warwickshire director of cricket Ashley Giles is keen to avoid a second bowl-out against Kent after rain washed out their quarterfinal clash at Edgbaston last night.
The two teams needed a shoot-out in the indoor nets at the same ground 14 years ago to settle a Benson and Hedges Cup quarter-final, which ended 5-4 in the home team's favour.
Another bowl-out will be required if further rain foils efforts to get the game played this evening.
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Former England spinner Giles said: "No one wants a bowl-out to settle things. We want to see a good game of cricket. We have done a check on the weather forecast and it looks okay."
And Giles believes it is important to start the match in the evening because 6,000 fans have already purchased tickets.
He said: "I think you have to look after the spectators. They have been good for us in Twenty20. The competition has taken a bit of a battering in the last week and we need to look after the game."
Twenty20, quarter-final - Edgbaston: Warwks v Kent (5pm). County championship, Div 2 - Worcester: Worcs v Northants.