Yorkshire Twenty20 expulsion appeal to be heard on Monday at Taunton

The England and Wales Cricket Board's discipline commission on Thursday decided that Yorkshire's use of Azeem Rafiq, a former England Under-15 and Under-16 captain who does not hold a British passport, in a group match against Nottinghamshire was a sufficient breach of the rules to force their ejection from the competition.

Because of his Pakistani passport, Rafiq officially qualifies as an overseas player and as Pakistan star Rana Naved-ul-Hasan had not been deregistered, he was ineligible to play.

When the issue came to the ECB's attention they called for Yorkshire's Monday night quarter-final against Durham to be postponed pending an investigation.

A three-man panel then heard from all interested parties at Old Trafford on Thursday before awarding Nottinghamshire the points for the game in question and awarding them the remaining berth in the last eight. Yorkshire's appeal will be heard at Taunton on Monday.

Spinner Azeem Rafiq's registration has caused Yorkshire severe problems

Yorkshire were presented with a 5pm deadline to register their appeal and with minutes to go before the time elapsed, they released the following statement. "Further to a board meeting of The Yorkshire County Cricket Club this morning, the club have confirmed to the ECB that they will be appealing against the decision to exclude the club from this year's Twenty20 Cup competition.

"The club feel that the punishment is manifestly disproportionate to the offence and as such feels duty-bound on behalf of its players, members and staff to lodge an appeal.

"As yet the identities of the panel hearing the appeal are unknown."

Yorkshire's dissatisfaction with the decision stems principally from the fact that Rafiq has represented England at youth level without any dramas over his passport status but also hinges on the fact that his effect on the match in question - he bowled two wicketless overs for 18 and was not required to bat - was negligible.

Nevertheless, the ECB panel contended that Yorkshire were made aware of concerns over the spinner's immigration status "no later than early 2007" and had ample time to iron out any problems.

But the Headingley side are not the only ones who feel aggrieved by the situation. Durham were prevented from enjoying the benefits of staging a lucrative quarter-final when their clash with Yorkshire was abandoned and may not now be able to play a first-choice team in any rescheduled fixture.

There are doubts over South African pair Shaun Pollock and Albie Morkel and initial suggestions from the Dynamos camp were that they should be handed a bye into the semi-finals.

Durham's chief executive David Harker said: "I'm disappointed about the whole affair. "The whole thing is a pretty sorry situation. To be geared up to play a game then have to cancel it just before it is due to start is embarrassing.

"We have already put the case that we are being unduly punished for something that had nothing to do with us.

"We don't have anything new to add so I don't think an appeal would be successful."

Glamorgan, meanwhile, finished third in the Mid/West/Wales Division, narrowly missing out on a spot in the last eight. They may also feel they, rather than Nottinghamshire, should benefit if Yorkshire's expulsion is upheld next week.