Taurus Sports, who did not attend the annual meeting of the Bradford & District Evening Cricket League, have not have a happy time of things.

Firstly, the Calverley-based Division One club were deem-ed to have resigned from the league for owing £312 in unpaid fees – £172 to the league for fines for such as failing to phone their results in and failing to send in match report sheets, and £140 for failing to pay their own umpire.

But secondly there was a blow to all their 25 registered players, who are currently suspended from all cricket within Yorkshire until the £312 has been paid.

It was thought, from information gathered from the Yorkshire Cricket Board’s disciplinary officer Ian Livesey, that if the players each paid £12.48 (one-25th of the total owing), they would no longer be suspended.

However, it turns out that that would only be the case if the Evening League were in favour of that ruling, but they are not, preferring the whole £312 to be repaid.

That means that all 25 players will remain suspended until the amount is paid in full.

Shipley Providence, from Division Two, have resigned due to a lack of players but newcomers are Calverley, HSA (formerly Keighley Young Muslims), Mayfield and Esholt.

The league lost £384.61 for the year ending October 31, 2009 but that was largely down to Taurus Sports.

Due to a rule change passed at the annual meeting, all new clubs will now have to pay a £50 bond at the April meeting.

This will be refunded at the end of the season providing there are no outstanding debts. The rule change was passed 18-0.

Treasurer Smita Lymbery explained: “Steve Priestley (league secretary) and I spend a lot of time chasing clubs for unpaid fines and money owed to umpires, and we should not have to do this.

“The bond of £50 will provide some security for the league.”

Meanwhile, umpires have been asked to dress as smartly when officiating at Evening League matches as they would do in their weekend leagues.

League chairman Tom Priestley thanked Windhill for again staging a successful finals day.

He said: “I think they have been staging the finals for six years now and we would like to continue there next year.”