SOUTH African all-rounder Craig Haupt will not now be available for Oxfordshire in this season's Minor Counties Championship.

A mix-up over Haupt's UK citizenship means that Oxon will almost certainly have to wait another 12 months for the services of a player regarded as amongst the best in the Cherwell League.

The county had originally thought that the Banbury man would be eligible to play, having served a seven-year residency qualification.

But the English Cricket Board turned down Haupt's registration.

"It's an unfortunate technicality," explained Oxfordshire team manager Alan Crossley.

"You have to be a UK citizen to play for a Minor County and Craig thought he was.

"He came here in 1992 and got married in 1994, so he is perfectly entitled to become a citizen, but you have to go through the process of actually applying for it. "Craig has got a letter from the Home Office saying that he is free to live here - and he believed that this made him a citizen. It's an easy mistake to make."

Crossley added: "He has now got to fill in forms and wait for the wheels at the Home Office to turn.

"It should take six months - and that means no Oxfordshire cricket for him this season, which is a shame, because he really looks the part."

Haupt made his competitve debut for the county in the NatWest Trophy defeat by a Durham Board XI on Tuesday - but only after he was hurriedly registered as Oxon's one permitted overseas player.

Story date: Saturday 08 May

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