Vermeulen ban cut at Lancashire hearing

Mark Vermeulen: ban cut from ten to three years © Getty Images Enlarge

Mark Vermeulen's ten-year ban imposed by the Central Lancashire League has been declared invalid and he has now been banned for three years - with the second and third suspended - after a hearing of the Lancashire Cricket Board on Monday night.

Vermeulen was slapped with the ban last week following a serious altercation during a match between Werneth and Ashton. The league committee imposed the punishment without the player being present as it was widely reported he had left the country. It later emerged he was staying with Andy Flower in Essex.

Andrew Fitch-Holland, Vermeulen's legal representative, told the hearing that his client admitted breaching the ECB Code of Conduct and Spirit of Cricket although mitigating circumstances were put forward. The hearing considered all this and subsequently imposed a three-year ban with effect from April 1, 2007. The second and third years will be suspended.

"We are pleased that the board have clearly recognised the substantial mitigation put forward on Mark's behalf," Fitch-Holland explained. "However, we are disappointed that Mark remains subject to an effective 12-month ban. Mark is totally focused on fighting for a place in Zimbabwe's World Cup squad and is obviously concerned as to how this outcome will be viewed. We believe that issues raised by Mark in his mitigation are of great consequence for all professional cricketers and accordingly we feel that it is in Mark's best interest to pursue his right to an appeal before the ECB."

Fitch-Holland added that Vermeulen had been diagnosed as "suffering from a depressive illness which of course has a significant impact upon his behaviour". He continued: "For anyone, let alone a professional sportsman, to publically admit to such a struggle is, I suggest, exceptional and worthy of a degree of respect. We offer no excuses for Mark's unacceptable conduct but ask instead for some understanding. To his credit Mark has aready taken positive steps to seek help, and is trying to remain upbeat about his future in cricket in these difficult days."

Click here to see the video of the incident at bbc.co.uk