Fletcher served ban..WICB
We have received a number of queries today with regard to Andre Fletcher’s eligibility to play in the ongoing Regional 4 Day Tournament. This is in view of the two match ban which he received in July 2012.The last paragraph of the WICB Media Release of July 23, 2012 (reproduced below for ease of reference) reads as follows:
“The Board received a report from the WICB Disciplinary Committee following a hearing that Windward Islands player Andre Fletcher has been banned for the next two 4 Day matches for which he would have otherwise been eligible. During the last WICB Regional 4 Day Tournament Fletcher was charged for showing serious dissent at an umpire’s decision under Rule 2.2 of the Code of Conduct. It was his third such charge in a twelve month period.”
Please be advised that Mr. Fletcher duly served his two match ban during the West Indies A v India A Digicel Series in the Caribbean. That series included three Digicel ‘Tests’ (four day matches). The WICB Selection Panel was advised of Fletcher’s unavailability for selection for the first two ‘Tests’ owing to the two match ban. Fletcher was not selected on this basis and thus duly served his ban. The Selection Panel did not select Fletcher for the third Digicel ‘Test’.
To be clear, Fletcher was not required to serve the ban IN THE WICB REGIONAL 4 DAY TOURNAMENT (as is the apparent interpretation by some). Fletcher was required to serve the ban, as is clearly stated in the release, “for the next two 4 Day matches for which he would have otherwise been eligible”.