NZ cricketer ruled out of selection due to rape trial
Scott Kuggeleijn, who is accused of raping a 21-year-old woman last year, will be under trial early next year.
Mumbai: Scott Kuggeleijn, New Zealand cricketer, requested the national cricket board to excuse him from any national representation. Kuggeleijn is accused of raping a 21-year-old woman in May 2015.
While the case was dismissed in August as the jury was unable to reach a verdict, a retrial is ordered by jury and it is scheduled to take place in Hamilton early next year.
Radio NZ quoted a statement from New Zealand Cricket chief executive David White saying: “Under normal circumstances Kuggeleijn would have been selected in the New Zealand A side to play Pakistan later this month, but he has asked to be temporarily excused from any national representation.”
“Kuggeleijn believes his selection would be a significant distraction for him and the game,” added the statement.
“New Zealand Cricket agrees and has approved his request not to play,” concluded White.
Kuggeleijn, the 24-year-old medium pacer and a lower order batsman, was averaging 77 with the bat in the Plunket Shield after two rounds and scalped 12 wickets at 24.08 for Northern Districts.