Somerset opening batter Chris Douglas is back in contention for Cup Match after the Bermuda Cricket Board ruled that the Eastern Counties first-round match between Bailey’s Bay and St David’s on Saturday could form part of his suspension.

Douglas was banned for two 50-overs matches or four T20 games by the BCB for showing serious dissent towards an umpire’s decision when playing for Somerset in the Knockout Cup semi-final against Bailey’s Bay, with the original suspension scheduled to come to an end after Cup Match on August 20.

During the week it appeared that all sides had accepted Douglas would miss the Annual Classic as a result of a memorandum of understanding between the BCB and the Eastern Cricket Counties Association, but the opener played for Somerset against Willow Cuts yesterday with the BCB confirming his ban has now been completed.

The decision to include the Eastern Counties match as part of the suspension is sure to raise eyebrows among St George’s fans given that Douglas would have represented St David’s only as a guest player.

BCB cricket chairman Steven Douglas, who is also the player’s father, confirmed that his son was free to resume playing along with St David’s regular Ricardo Brangman, who was handed an identical punishment for the same offence, with communication sent to all clubs the players represented to confirm their availability for selection on Sunday.

“This has nothing to do with the memorandum of understanding, its something that happened long before that,” Douglas said.

“We had an agreement long before that, with the Eastern Counties and the BCB, that if the BCB acknowledges the Eastern Counties suspension, we would acknowledge their suspension.

“Eastern Counties equates to two T20 games and nobody can be penalised twice. Him and Ricardo Brangman are free to play now. The club is informed and Somerset are one of the clubs that respects what the board is doing. The club has done nothing wrong.”

Douglas scored an unbeaten 18 and took one wicket on his return to the side against Cuts and Janeiro Tucker, the Somerset assistant coach, said they had been given the all-clear to use Douglas after his suspension had officially ended on Saturday.

“Chris Douglas played for us because his suspension ended yesterday,’’ Tucker said. “He is now available for Cup Match.”