Kick Yorkshire out of Cup, demand Durham

The quarter-final did not start at Chester-le-Street after the ECB ordered the match to be called off minutes before the teams were due to take to the pitch.

ECB chiefs ordered the match to be postponed due to the apparent ineligibility of 17-year-old Yorkshire spinner Azeem Rafiq for a group match against Nottinghamshire last month in which he played and they will consider what action to take Thursday.

Durham believe that they should advance to the finals at the Rose Bowl on July 26, when the semi-finals and the final will be played.

"To be honest, the only fair outcome now is that we go to the finals and, if it's a result of Yorkshire being kicked out, then so be it," Harker said.

Both finalists from the domestic competition will qualify for the inaugural and highly lucrative Twenty20 Champions League.

The winners of that competition stand to win £2.5 million and Harker is keen for Durham to progress.

He believes that any rearranged game against Yorkshire would hamper Durham's chances of success due to their busy fixture schedule.

"Any other solution which doesn't have Durham automatically proceeding to the finals day is going to further disadvantage us and that can't be right," he said.

Harker confirmed that Durham would appeal against any decision by the ECB to rearrange the match.

The only date that the ECB have recommended to Durham for a rematch is July 21, the day after the county play a Pro40 League match against Middlesex at Uxbridge.

"We'd be travelling back late on Sunday to play a game on Monday afternoon with only half a side available," Harker said.

Harker revealed that Durham would be writing to the ECB to complain about the situation and a representative from the county will attend Thursday's ECB hearing if allowed.

Harker believes that Monday night's match should have been played, regardless of Rafiq's status.

A crowd of around 6,000 had gathered at the Riverside, but they were left frustrated by the late cancellation of the match.

"They turned up in good faith and the game hasn't happened because of an administrative error. There's a lot of bad feeling out there," Harker said.

"The players are absolutely devastated as well.

"We were in a determined state of mind for a huge game."

Durham remain aware that they may have to replay the match, regardless of their current feelings, and Harker said: "It's not going to be easy to gear the players up for the game."