Otago cricketers want meeting over report

Press, 13 February 1982, Page 64

Otago cricketers want meeting over report

PA Dunedin The players’ committee of the Otago cricket team has asked for a meeting with the Otago Cricket Association to discuss allegations of misconduct by players. The move follows strong criticism by Mr Allan Walker, the president of the association, of the behaviour of some players during the last two Shell Trophy matches. Mr Walker was team manager for the games in Invercargill and Hamilton. The players’ committee was formed before the start of the series and comprises Stephen Boock, Wayne Blair and Brendon Bracewell. In a statement yesterday, the committee said: “The

players’ committee was formed by the Otago cricket team to liaise with the O.C.A. management committee. .We have requested a meeting of the full team and the O.C.A. to discuss allegations of misconduct by players. “Many players feel their, reputations have been seriously damaged by implications made in Mr Walker’s manager’s report of the last two Shell Trophy games. “We request that a meeting, to be open to the news media, be held as soon as possible,” the statement said. No date has yet been set for the meeting but it is likely to be held within the next two weeks.

The O.C.A. management committee will meet next Tuesday to consider a complaint from an Invercargill hotel about the behaviour of three Otago players during the game there against Central Districts.

The players concerned have been asked to attend the meeting. The meeting will not be open to the news media but a statement will be released afterwards.

The meeting requested by the players’ committee is to discuss Mr Walker’s report in detail. It is not to consider the Invercargill hotel incident.