Yorkshire county cricket club have announced they will be appealing the decision of the England and Wales Cricket Board (ECB) to expel them from this season's Twenty20 Cup.

Following a disciplinary hearing at Old Trafford yesterday, the ECB decided to punish the club for fielding an ineligible player, 17-year-old Azeem Rafiq, in their final group match against Nottinghamshire.

As a result, Notts are to be reinstated to the competition and will face Durham in a rearranged quarter-final at some point in the next fortnight.

The situation has cast a shadow over the domestic game because it resulted in Monday's original last-eight match between Durham and Yorkshire at the Riverside being called off at the last minute, pending the ECB's investigation.

In a statement following a board meeting today, Yorkshire CCC said: "The club feel that the punishment is manifestly disproportionate to the offence and as such feels duty-bound on behalf of its players, members and staff to lodge an appeal."

The appeal hearing will take place on Monday, July 14th at the County Ground in Taunton, Somerset, and will be chaired by David Gabbitass.

Also on the panel will be Chris Tickle, Alan Wadey, Mike Smith and Cliff Pocock.
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