Haig Fawkner faces oblivion as it fights Victorian Turf Cricket Association in court

Haig Fawkner, the club at the centre of an expulsion vote, faces extinction and the loss of an entire suburb’s junior pathway over its legal battle with the Victorian Turf Cricket Association.

Haig Fawkner faces oblivion if it is kicked out of the Victorian Turf Cricket Association.

A vote will be held at the VTCA AGM on Wednesday to decide Haig’s future in the competition as well as to possibly ban the players involved for life.

A number of clubs and the association have been angered by its decision to take the VTCA to court over the handling of ball tampering charges in February.

However, Haig has defended the decision believing any club would fight what it considered unjust treatment.

The historic 91-year-old club would be crippled if expelled – the only club in the suburb of Fawkner.

Haig Fawkner batters Ahmad Shakeel and Jaspreet Bhatti. Picture: Andy Brownbill

With no other turf cricket competition in the region, it would likely be left with only its Third and Fourth XIs, which are currently competing in the North West Metro Cricket Association.

It would then likely lead to a player exodus.

Flow on affects could then impact junior cricket – with no senior club to graduate into, young players would likely move on or leave the game altogether.

The situation stems from ball tampering charges in a match between Haig and Sunshine United on January 28.

Three players were initially charged but after a lack of video evidence, three more players were charged and four suspended – three bowlers who used the ball during the window in question and captain Vaib Deshpande.

The club was hit with a $5000 fine and good behaviour bond that allegedly directed that if any club player was reported in the next two years the club could be deregistered.

Haig has not contested the suspensions but the process that was followed by the VTCA.

It has disputed the fact the league’s investigating officer also sits on the tribunal panel as well as the independence of the appeals panel.

It also contends the league didn’t follow its protocol by providing evidence 48 hours before the hearing and never provided evidence, such as pictures of the ball.

It’s appeal to the Victorian Metropolitan Cricket Union – whose president Mark Keating is also president of VTCA club Gellibrand – was dismissed.

Haig said rival clubs suggesting it simply take its medicine was misguided.

It hoped taking the association to court would bring it to the table to negotiate the sanctions.

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It is believed a deed of agreement had been signed off on only for it to be torn up and the decision left in the court’s hands.

While Haig Fawkner has been paying for its court costs, the VTCA will pass on costs to its clubs – a major reason for clubs anger ahead of the expulsion vote.

The AGM decision is a club driven vote, which only needs to meet a 50 per cent threshold to succeed, in contrast to an association-brought vote, which would require 75 per cent of clubs to agree.

It is believed current Haig Fawkner president Tiziana Kosmak will be allowed to speak to club delegates before the vote.