BLAYNEY won’t have a first or second grade side in the Bathurst District Cricket Association this summer with skipper Jameel Qureshi confirming the club had disbanded its top two sides.
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After a lengthy absence from Bathurst’s top grade prior to the 2012-13 season, Blayney has played in the BDCA for the last four summers.
But this season the club will field a fourth grade and presidents cup outfit only, Qureshi saying a dip in stock held the club back from competing in the higher grades.
“We just couldn’t get the numbers,” Qureshi said. “It’s disappointing, absolutely, I’ve always been a passionate, loyal Blayney cricketer, and if there’s ever a side playing that’s where I’ll play.
“But it’s more for the younger guys. There’s no pathway locally now and if they want to go on and play top level they have to do so in Orange or Bathurst, that’s the most disappointing part for me.”
Qureshi confirmed both he and his brother Imran will play the 2016-17 BDCA top grade season with Rugby Union. The competition will commence on October 15.
Meanwhile, with a distinct sparseness of representative cricket this summer following the Western Zone Premier League’s dumping, Mitchell Cricket Council established a Twenty20 Cup.
It has been scheduled for early February to complement the regular President’s and Hartas Cup competitions.
It also serves another purpose. It will act as a selection tool for the Central West Wranglers side for the now-annual Plan B Regional Bash.
“We needed to start getting a bit more serious about the Regional Bash if we want the Wranglers to compete with the likes of the Orana Outlaws and other sides,” MCC president Mark Frecklington said.
“A lot of players in Mitchell probably haven’t played a lot of T20. Orange has the Royal Hotel Cup and Bathurst plays a little bit, but this is to offer players the chance to play that format at a higher level.
“It will give selectors a chance to look at and identify the best T20 players in the region.”