LONDON, July 8: Controversy reigned on Monday after the England and Wales Cricket Board (ECB) called off the English Twenty20 Cup quarter-final match between Durham and Yorkshire over an ineligible player.

The ECB acted after determining that Yorkshire had failed to register Azeem Rafiq as a first-class player for an earlier decisive group match against Nottinghamshire.

Fans were furious as the match was called off just minutes before it was due to begin and they were left to make their way home following a pointless journey.

The ECB disciplinary commission will meet on Thursday to determine what action should be taken against Yorkshire.

Chief Executive David Collier insisted the ECB said they could not have taken any other course of action other than postpone the match.

“I don’t think we could have done any more than what we’ve been doing today,” he said. “It has been a mad rush. The worst would have been to just ignore it and act as though nothing had happened and let the game go ahead with the knowledge that the game may well have to be replayed.”—AFP