Jamshedpur, Feb. 28: The state cricket association has disqualified Seraikela-Kharsawan district from the ongoing Haymen Trophy inter-district cricket tournament on charges of fielding ?outstation? players.

The decision to disqualify Seraikela-Kharsawan from the inter-district tournament was taken at an emergency meeting of the tournament sub-committee of the Jharkhand State Cricket Association held yesterday evening.

According to tournament sub-committee chairman U.K. Srivastava, the step was taken after it was found that they had fielded outstation players in an inter-district match against Garhwa on February 24.

Srivastava, who is also the JSCA vice-president, added that according to rules formulated by the tournament sub-committee (for the inter-district tourney), only registered players of a particular district can play in the Haymen Trophy.

?In this case, it was found that Seraikela-Kharsawan district had fielded cricketers from Jamshedpur in the match against Garhwa. It was established that at least two players from the steel city had represented Seraikela-Kharsawan in that match,? Srivastava said.

The senior JSCA functionary said Garhwa had lodged its protest against Seraikela-Kharsawan for including outstation players in their team.

?Garhwa lodged the protest after losing the match. We took disciplinary action after studying the report submitted by the officiating umpires,? he said.

Sources in the tournament sub-committee said, at least eight players from Jamshedpur have represented Seraikela-kharsawan in the inter-district tournament against Garhwa.

?Strict disciplinary action would also be initiated against the players from Jamshedpur who had played that match,? they added.

?The errant players will be disqualified from playing further matches. We have started identifying them,? the sources said.

?Garhwa had lodged the protest with the officiating umpires soon after the completion of the match. The umpires, who also act as match observers, had sent a detailed report. This formed the basis for disqualification of Seraikela-Kharsawan district,? the member said.

Some of the JSCA-affiliated districts ? who participated in the Haymen Trophy inter-district tournament ? include players from other districts to strengthen their teams.

?At least eight players from Jamshedpur are reported to have donned Seraikela-Kharsawan colours in the match. But Garhwa had identified two such players,? the sources said.

Sources added that Seraikela-Kharsawan had ?intentionally? fielded outstation players, as it was not in a position to form a strong unit for the Haymen Trophy.

?The district lacks cricket infrastructure. So it is natural that it would not have good players,? the sources said.