Hurdle’s ban ‘too excessive’ argue Flatts
Flatts Victoria Cricket Club have not ruled out taking further action against Bermuda Cricket Board (BCB) sanctions imposed upon their fast bowler Kevin Hurdle.The club lost its appeal against Hurdle’s one-year ban but are now considering taking their case to the Ministry of Sports Alternate Dispute Resolution (ADR) arbitration panel in the hope of having the ban, which they argue is excessive, reduced.Hurdle was found guilty of kicking Western Stars player/coach Andre Manders and showing serious dissent at an umpire’s decision during a controversial May 6 First Division match at St John’s Field.The star bowler will not be eligible to play again until June 18, 2013.Flatts have accused Manders and his son Tre of instigating a brawl which forced their match against the Central Counties champions Stars to be abandoned. They also feel that the reprimand the Stars pair received from the BCB amounts to nothing more than a “slap on the wrist”.Bermuda Under 19 cricket coach Manders had a Level Four charge reduced to a Level One by the BCB’s disciplinary committee while Hurdle was charged and found guilty of committing a Level Four offence.There were no official umpires at last month’s ill-fated match at St John’s Field that was halted in the 23rd over of the hosts’ innings. Stars were on 122 without loss in reply to the visitors’ 312 when stand -in umpire and Western Stars president Wayne Campbell decided enough was enough and pulled stumps.Tempers flared after Stars batsman Tre Manders stood his ground after he was adjudged to have been run out by stand-in umpire Wayne Campbell who is the president of Western Stars Sports Club.It is then alleged that heated words were exchanged between the batsman and Flatts stalwart Rahji Edness which resulted with the former threatening to strike the latter with the bat.It is understood that Hurdle eventually stepped in to separate the two men but is alleged to have been shoved by Manders’ father Andre.Manders denies shoving Hurdle who has declined to comment on the incident.Hurdle was found guilty by a BCB disciplinary committee of physically assaulting another player and showing serious dissent at an umpire’s decision during the match and banned for a year and two 50 over matches.Edness was banned for two 50 over matches after being found guilty of using obscene, insulting and offensive language or gestures.Stars’ father and son duo Andre and Tre Manders were both reprimanded after being found guilty of committing Level One offences.