Dwight Basden, the Willow Cuts captain, has hit out at the Bermuda Cricket Board’s decision to deduct his club points for unpaid umpires’ fees.

Basden said the club was prepared to fight the sanction and yesterday he sent an e-mail to the International Cricket Council to take up the issue with the game’s governing body.

Three Premier Division clubs, Cuts, Somerset and St David’s, have been deducted 13 points by the BCB for failing to pay outstanding umpire fees from last season. According to league regulations, clubs had to pay their dues by June 15 or risk having points deducted.

However, Basden argues the sanctions are unfair on a club such as Willow Cuts who have no ground and limited revenue. The outstanding amount owed was roughly $1,500, and was paid on Monday.

“We can’t compete with those clubs, they have bars, gate receipts and their own fields,” Basden said. “It’s unfair to us as a small club.” The deductions, combined with defeats at the weekend, leave Somerset and Willow Cuts level on 29 points and locked in a battle to avoid the second relegation spot.

Willow Cuts lost to Cleveland on Sunday while Somerset forfeited their match with Flatts at St David’s, with the bottom team awarded 13 points which moves them to within eight points of Somerset and Willow Cuts with two games remaining.

With the Premier Division being reduced to six teams next season, the bottom two clubs this year will be relegated, while the side that finishes fifth will face a promotion-relegation play-off against the team that finishes second in the First Division.

“I understand this was in place last year, but the BCB never took any points from anybody and teams still owed them money,” Basden said.

“It’s unfair for this to come around at this point and I’m wondering if it is legal under ICC rules. Both those clubs have their fields used by the Bermuda Cricket Board for international matches because of the facilities there but we don’t have that luxury.

“The ICC gives money to the board to benefit the clubs and we don’t ever see that money. If clubs like St David’s and Somerset are struggling then what does that say about us, with no set income?”

Neil Speight, the BCB chief executive, has confirmed that both Cuts and Somerset are appealing the points deduction.