Absentees to be hit hard in pocket

CLUBS will be hit hard in the pocket for failure to fulfil fixtures from next season. And sides that perennially turn out short of players will have to consider their future following the vote at the Guernsey Cricket Association's extraordinary meeting in favour of introducing fines to combat such problems.

GCA president Dave Nussbaumer was delighted that the clubs chose to adopt such a policy and hoped that it would mean that clubs ensure they enter competition in the knowledge that they have sufficient players to meet fixture obligations.

'We have become increasingly disturbed by the number of fixtures that are not fulfilled across the divisions and the impact this has on administration and those teams affected by not playing,' he said.

'By introducing fines alongside the current penalties, it might discourage those teams who constantly struggle for player numbers from entering competitions.

'The fines raised would be used to compensate financially those teams who, having paid a subscription fee based on a set number of fixtures, do not get full value for money,' Nussbaumer added.

Under the amendments to the rules, clubs failing to fulfil fixtures will be fined according to the notice given to the umpires, opposition and GCA.

If notification is received at least 48 hours beforehand, the fine will be £25; otherwise the club will be charged £50.

Those payments would be on top of conceding any league points or a place in the next round if a knockout competition is involved.

Teams fielding an under-strength side will be liable to a £10 fine per missing player below 10.

The rules will apply across all GCA cricket although re-arranged fixtures will not be subject after clubs raised concerns over the difficulty of getting out XIs at short notice.

Last season nine walkovers were given in the Evening League, and there was one void match where neither team turned out, while seven more were conceded in the Super Eights. At the weekends, nine walkovers were given.

The majority of problems come from clubs who have more than one team and they are being urged by the GCA committee not to overestimate their resources.

Total Cobo were one of the larger clubs who struggled last year, having conceded a total of four games.

Club president Rob Batiste said Cobo should seriously consider whether they continue with three teams.

'We had a terrible time in raising a second team this year and with the new ruling, we would be foolish to continue with three senior sides while knowing we may struggle.

'The trouble is people say they want to play but often when push comes to shove, they don't want to know. We have some serious thinking to do.'

Under the new rules, Cobo could have accrued £200-worth of fines and faced discretionary sanctions.