Aslam is made to sit it out

Professional Imran Aslam has been banned for the next two Armstrongs Office Furniture Saddleworth and District Cricket League matches.

That’s bad news for Glodwick – who are pushing hard to clinch runners-up spot – but good news for their opponents.

The Pakistani pro, who is the leading wicket-taker in the league with 51 victims, has paid the price for a show of petulance against Heyside.

Aslam knocked down the stumps after a last-ball defeat. The offence should have carried a three-match suspension, but it was cut to two after he apologised to the umpire immediately after the game.

He will sit out tomorrow’s fixture at Saddleworth and Saturday week’s visit of Stayley.

Saddleworth are six points behind Glodwick in third and will now fancy their chances of swapping places.

They, too, have a pro in form. Captain Peter Skuse has spearheaded Saddleworth’s renaissance with a bucket-load of runs and wickets, and they are on course to meet their skipper’s target of finishing in the top six.

Austerlands were Aslam-ed last weekend — he took seven wickets and scored an unbeaten 80 — and they face another player at the top of his game tomorrow.

Zeeshan Khan, Uppermill’s overseas amateur, has amassed more than 700 runs so far.

Hollinwood are boosted by the return of a clutch of key players for their home game against Moorside.

Captain John Winterbottom, spinner Rashid Khan, batsman Shazad Butt and wicketkeeper John McGovern are back as the Lime Lane outfit look to recover from last weekend’s defeat by Greenfield.