by Ravi Nagahawatte
Havelocks Sports Club have threatened to pull out of the ongoing President’s Trophy Knock out Tournament if participating teams borrow players from two clubs which are not involved in the tournament.

The chairman of the tournament committee, Ibrahim Hamid, said that he has received a letter of protest from the president of Havelocks Sports Club, Michael Jayasekara, stating that he will withdraw his team in the event of any club borrowing players from two non participating teams, Kandy Sports Club and Kandy Youth Sports Club.

It is reported that a leading rugby playing club in the country, CR & FC, is to field four players from Kandy Youth Sports Club. Officials of CR &FC when contacted said that these players from Kandy Youth have received letters of consent from their club.

Hamid further stressing on the issue said that any team wanting to borrow players can do so provided they keep within the criteria laid by the tournament’s rule book.

The chairman of the tournament committee further stressed that players changing clubs can make their appearance for their new club only after adhering to a two week residential rule.

At the time of going to press the tournament committee was maintaining it’s stance that any player who changes clubs will not be allowed to return to the club he initially represented for the rest of the season.

The tournament committee was to hold an emergency meeting last evening.