Israelis not so welcome

ISRAEL'S escalating war with Hezbollah has overshadowed Guernsey and Jersey's preparations for the European Championships which start in Glasgow today. Jersey's opening match of the tournament against Israel has been called off due to security fears and Dave Hearse's Guernsey side could play the Israelis in the play-off stages.

Muslim groups held a rally in the Scottish city which saw more than 400 people protest the escalating middle-east crisis. Protesters have since contacted Strathclyde police to warn that double this number would be present at Israel's match with Jersey at the Glasgow Academicals ground.

In light of this, the host ground made it known that they would be not able to stage the match as a children's nursery was also being run there and it was deemed too much of a risk.

With no other ground with sufficient security facilities willing to the host the fixture the European Cricket Council opted to cancel it and award both teams a point.

'I think they called it off on the advice of the police and all the other people they speak to about security,' said Jersey's manager Dave Gorman.

'They're trying to make sure the players and all those involved are safe and if a game is to be called off then all the best.'

Jersey were fancying taking all the points against the side that is widely regarded as the weakest in their group.

'We're disappointed to be the unlucky side to miss out on the prospect of two points instead one,' said Gorman.

'It's just one of those things and we've got to try and deal with it and try to get maximum points from the two games we will play.'

Guernsey manager Dave Hearse was staying tight-lipped on the Israeli team situation.

'We've been asked not to comment by the ECC for the sake of everyone here,' he said.

'We're here to play cricket and Israel are here to play cricket and apart from that I've got nothing to say.'

The ECC insists, however, that Israel's remaining two matches against France and Norway this coming weekend will take place at the Academicals ground.

On arrival in Scotland, the Israeli team were given a police escort to the hotel in the centre of Glasgow where all the teams in the competition are staying.

Security has been stepped up with all the players having to wear identification badges at all times while on the premises. Guernsey arrived in Scotland late on Tuesday and after a training session yesterday that was disrupted by rain, Hearse named his side to face Gibraltar today at Old Anniesland.

Out of the squad of 14, batsman Richard Veillard and seam bowlers Steve Queripel and Kris Moherndl were the ones to miss out.

* Guernsey team: Andy Biggins (capt.), Stuart Le Prevost (vice-capt.), Lee Savident, Matt Oliver, Ami Banerjee, Jeremy Frith, Mark Jefferies, Jamie Nussbaumer, Pierre Moody, Gary Rich, Stuart Bisson.