PADIHAM skipper Pankaj Tripathi is serving a shock two-game ban.

The double suspension was served up by the Vaux Ribblesdale League after they were alerted following comments by Tripathi to a local newspaper about the umpires in Padiham's opening fixture of the season.

Padiham won the game - a five wicket victory over Blackburn Northern - but Tripathi was quoted as saying: "We were at 19-5, although there were three bad decisions.

"Phil Metcalfe was given out leg before despite hitting the ball - the umpire must have had his walkman on!

"Marcus Gee was not happy with his dismissal, and I was out to a routine appeal "

Padiham were also fined £50 - which will be suspended until the end of the 1997 campaign. "It was purely a throw-away comment which found its way into print," explained Padiham chairman Keith Clayton.

"We've had to suffer the consequences of this matter and it was all a little unfortunate. The comments were not in anyway casting aspersions on the abilities of the umpires in question.

"Pankaj has written to both umpires and the Ribblesdale League to offer his apologies."

The Padiham captain missed last weekend's clash with Earby and will complete his ban against Oswaldtwistle Immanuel at New Lane on Saturday.

Last season he played a crucial role in bringing the Ribblesdale League title to the Arbories, scoring 455 runs at an average of 21.67.

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