Lincolnshire ECB defend ban following Paul Cook appeal
The Lincolnshire captain was originally given an 11-week ban for mis-leading the league over his availability to play for his club side Bracebridge Heath after being handed a one-match suspension following an incident in a match last season.
The ban was reduced to four weeks at an appeal hearing last month, with the panel ruling that Cook (pictured left in action for Bracebridge last season) was guilty of the offence but also noting that the league had not followed proper procedures.
ECB League chairman and secretary Ged McDougall said he is satisfied with the decision of the three-man appeal board.
"Paul was found guilty by the appeal so our decision was upheld," he said.
"Although the ban has been reduced we certainly don't think it has been slashed.
"Our 11-week ban only covered ECB League games as that is all we have power to enforce, although the ECB and Minor Counties Cricket Association may have chosen to enforce the ban as well. However, the appeal panel ban does now definitely cover all cricket, including Minor Counties cricket.
"Our ban would have covered 11 ECB league games, but while the appeal's ban is shorter in length it still covers seven games, and effectively eight as the ban includes a bank holiday when Twenty20 games will be played.
"The reason the ban was reduced was because we did not quite follow proper procedures, which related to us not formally inviting Paul individually to the second meeting and not setting out our evidence directly to him.
"This is something we take on board."
There has also been confusion over a suspended 40-point penalty which was handed to Bracebridge.
Former Lincolnshire CCC chairman and Grantham solicitor Neil Hamilton, who attended Cook's hearing, said after the appeal that Bracebridge's ban should be removed.
However, McDougall said the punishment will stand.
"The league has the right to, as well as impose a ban on a player, impose a penalty on a club," he said.
"Bracebridge did not choose to appeal the decision for the 40-point deduction. And as far as we are aware they accept the punishment.
"We felt making the deduction suspended was the right course of action, as it would have been a bit harsh to make Bracebridge start next season with minus points.
"This way, so long as there are no discipline problems at the club over the next two years, they won't lose any points."
The original one-match ban related to an incident during ECB League champion Bracebridge's match against Woodhall Spa in July.
Cook was bizarrely given out for obstructing the field and was given the punishment for an incident reaction immediately after his dismissal.
At a hearing the league, club and player came to the agreement that rather than serving the ban immediately, Cook could miss the match at Caistor on September 5.
However, it later emerged that Cook had already been booked on to attend a course in London on that weekend, and was therefore unavailable to play that weekend anyway.
At a second hearing the league ruled Cook had misled them and handed out the lengthier ban.
Cook, who will miss Lincs' first three one-day matches of the season against Norfolk, Suffolk and Berkshire, said after the appeal decision that he wants to put the matter behind him and focus on inspiring the Imp County to Minor Counties glory this year.
"I'm just looking forward to next season now. I'm not happy I'm going to be missing games at the start of the season as it will be my first as captain," said Cook.
"But this hasn't deterred me at all, it's made me more determined to do well for Lincolnshire and show people what I can do."
Paul Cook.
Comment on this story