January 30, 2013 at 5:54 p.m.
BCB is 'moving the stumps' on Tucker ban
The board confirmed yesterday that Tucker, who was slapped with the ban after reportedly swearing at an umpire, would be suspended for all four 20-20 matches this weekend.
And disciplinary committee chairman Gary Fray condemned Rangers, accusing the club of a "last ditch effort to try and prevent a ban" and refusing to recognize that one of their players had "acted against the very spirit of cricket".
But Raynor said the board had not been consistent in its disciplinary decisions.
He accused Fray of "running his mouth" and said it was time for him to "move on" from his position.
Rangers were under the illusion that Tucker had already served four matches of his ban, having been forced to sit out Bermuda's Stanford 20-20 clash with Guyana and the three-match tour of Jamaica which preceded it.
They believe their case is backed up by the initial letter sent to the club by the BCB, which clearly states that Tucker's ban is for "all cricket".
The BCB has since stated that two of the matches in Jamaica - against a Development XI - did not count.
In a press statement yesterday Fray confirmed that Tucker still had four matches of his ban to serve and said: "Any attempts to avoid a ban based on semantics will not be successful."
Raynor said Rangers would abide by the decision for this weekend but would continue to pursue a complaint with the Alternative Dispute Resolution panel.
The club still maintains that Tucker did not swear at the umpire.
"Right is right and wrong is wrong and they've moved the stumps all over the place.
"You can't send a letter saying the ban is for 'all cricket' and then turn around four months later and say that's not what you meant."
He said he did not expect the issue to be resolved in time for Tucker to play this weekend, but he planned to pursue the complaint, even though Tucker would have served out his suspension by Monday.
"We'll continue to fight it because this could affect other cricketers in the future. At least it might make them right their letters properly in future."
Raynor also hit back at the BCB, accusing it of lacking consistency over disciplinary decisions and saying it was time for Fray to go.
"In his statement Fray criticized Tucker and the club for their handling of the situation.
"Mr. Tucker repeatedly abused an umpire during a domestic match.
"This behaviour will not be tolerated by any individual taking part in a local cricket least of all a member of the national programme.
"Frankly I am a little disappointed that rather than recognize that one of their players has committed a serious offence - one which goes against the very spirit of cricket - by responding constructively, Southampton Rangers are focusing on getting this individual back on the field of play at all costs."[[In-content Ad]]
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