YORKSHIRE limited overs captain Alex Lees has been handed a suspended two-match ban by Yorkshire for comments he made in the wake of Friday’s NatWest T20 Blast defeat against Notts at Trent Bridge.

Lees was annoyed at the decision by umpire Martin Saggers to call a no ball in the fifth over of that match for one too man fielders outside the 30-yard circle – namely the captain himself.

It ended up proving costly as the free hit went for four and the extra ball at the end of the over went for six as Notts chased down 161.

Lees called the decision “a terrible decision” and said of Saggers “I don’t think he’s doing his job properly”.

He admitted in his Press column earlier this week that he regretted making such comments in the heat of the moment.

He has since issued an apology to Saggers, the former Kent and England seamer.

“I regret comments made following Friday night’s game, and I would like to offer my sincerest apologies to Martin,” he said yesterday.

“These comments are uncharacteristic and were made in the heat of the moment.

“I understand the seriousness of the offence and regret these actions.

“I am now keen to put this incident behind me and concentrate on the important games coming up at Headingley this week.”

Yorkshire have handed Lees a two-match suspension, suspended for 12 months.

“The suspension is liable to be activated by, and under the terms of, the ECB Cricket Discipline Commission should Lees breach any ECB Directive within the 12-month period,” said a Yorkshire statement.

Chairman of the ECB’s Cricket Discipline Commission, Gerard Elias QC, stated: “I am grateful to Yorkshire for taking such prompt and decisive action in this matter.

“It is an excellent example of a county recognising the standard of conduct that is required by its players and taking measures which clearly demonstrate that anything below that standard will not be accepted.”

The first of those important Blast games Lees spoke about comes against Durham at Headingley this evening.

It is the first of three remaining North Group games for the Vikings, and one they must realistically win to have any chance of reaching the quarter-finals.

“Probably two out of the three we’ll have a slim chance, and three out of three we’ll definitely qualify,” said Lees.

“We were on the end of a nipper against Nottinghamshire, and it only takes a boundary or two to go to hand for a couple of dots and it’s a different game. That’s T20 cricket.

“Durham are fighting for that other spot, so hopefully we can perform well.”

Yorkshire currently sit second bottom in the table with four wins from eleven, while Durham are fourth but only two points clear.

They also face second-placed Northamptonshire at Headingley on Friday night before the return clash at Wantage Road a week later.

With Adil Rashid and Kane Williamson unavailable due to international commitments, Karl Carver and Matthew Waite have been drafted into a 14-man squad for tonight’s televised fixture, starting at 6.30pm.

Australian overseas signing Travis Head is in line to make his home debut.

Yorkshire 14-man squad v Durham: Lees c, Bresnan, Carver, Coad, Head, Hodd w, Leaning, Lyth, Patterson, Plunkett, Rafiq, Rhodes, Waite, Willey.