Two clubs in the Cumbria League’s Premier Division have had to ditch plans to bring top class professionals over for the coming season.
Administration issues have meant that both Cockermouth and Egremont have been unable to sign the players they had selected for the 2022 season.
Cockermouth had recruited top Pakistani batsman Usman Saluhaddin while Egremont, looking forward to life back in the top flight after promotion, had signed experienced Sri Lankan Pabasara Waduge.
Subsequently Egremont have signed a leading overseas amateur in West Indian Javon Grosvenor and Cockermouth, although late in the day, are hoping to go down the same route.
In Cockermouth’s case it was as a direct result of not meeting the ECB deadline for the SafeHands accreditation last year, they lost their ClubMark which it had since the inception of the awatd.
In the interim period between the ClubMark being lost and being unable to reapply for it until April, their ECB Sponsor Licence expired and can’t be renewed without ClubMark in place so as a result they could not engage a professional.
Long-serving club member Gareth White, who stepped down as skipper after last season, said: “I am incredibly disappointed we are having to go through this protracted re-application process and also gutted for Matthew Sempill as my replacement as captain.
“We had worked hard to sign a top class Pakistani international batsman in Usman Salahuddin who was desperate to come over and become a part of our club, playing a major role in the team.
“Although it has taken a long time commitment for several people, we are going to be in a position to renew our ClubMark at the first available date, although this won’t help for the 2022 season.”
A pro licence (sponsor licence) lasts for three years and unfortunately, in Cockermouth’s case, the ClubMark expired at the same time.
Due to their administrative issues, through not having a pro licence, Egremont had to give backword to their Sri Lankan recruit.
But they appear to have found a very good amateur replacement in the 24-year-old Grosvenor, a right-hand top order batsman who bowls left arm medium fast.
He currently plays in the Elite A division in Barbados, the top amateur league on the island which regularly features the likes of Jason Holder and other international cricketers.
Last season in Division One of the Durham and North East League, Grosvenor scored over 600 runs and took 25 wickets for Hylton from Sunderland.
His best knock was an impressive 146 at Esh Winning where he played alongside fellow West Indian, Marlon Black, a former Test player.
