Stokes decision:

We should know as soon as tomorrow whether Ben Stokes will be unveiled at Rangiora’s Mainpower Oval this weekend.

The Canterbury Cricket board met in Christchurch last night to decide whether banned England allrounder Stokes would be permitted to play a one-day match for the Wizards against Otago on Sunday and a New Zealand Cricket spokesman confirmed a decision was imminent.

Stokes was suspended from playing for England while police investigate his role in a brawl outside a pub in Bristol, and requires approval from Canterbury Cricket and NZ Cricket to play the domestic game in New Zealand.

The England and Wales Cricket Board (ECB) has already given him a no objection certificate (NOC), because the ban only applies to England matches, and NZC has indicated it will not stand in his way if Canterbury gives him the green light.

Given the controversial circumstances surrounding Stokes, this is one of the biggest decisions Canterbury Cricket has had to make in recent years and likely to have had all the board members on high alert at the Hazeldean Avenue offices.

Stokes didn’t attend the meeting. And after about an hour Canterbury coach Gary Stead, who has made it clear he would like to see Stokes play, left the building.

“From my point of view I think if you get someone like that, then let’s do it,’’ Stead told an Australian radio station yesterday.

The board members will surely have asked each other some tough questions because regardless of what they decide not everyone is going to be happy.

While the presence of Stokes will probably draw a decent crowd in Rangiora, and promote the domestic game, some may say they have reservations about letting him loose on Otago.

When someone such as former test batsman Peter Fulton, a highly respected member of the Canterbury cricketing community, questions whether Stokes should be allowed to play it is a clear indication this subject is a touchy one.

And then there is the fact that Stokes could replace suspended batsman Ken McClure, who has stood down from representative cricket after pleading guilty last week to one count of injurying with reckless disregard.

From the moment it was leaked to the media in Britain that Stokes could play for Canterbury, where he was brought-up and where parents Deb and Gerard still live, speculation as to whether the

26-year-old would operate with willow or leather, and whether he should or shouldn’t be allowed to do so, for the Wizards has been rife.

If Stokes proves he is match-fit during his outing for Canterbury he could be called-up for the third Ashes test in Perth, starting December 14.

Not that he was going to tell anyone outside his inner circle about his plans. Bleary-eyed after the long haul flight from England he said he was wanting to catch-up with his mum and dad. Questions about cricket were not answered. And it is quite likely he was right to keep his mouth shut because until the administrators in New Zealand give their approval, or otherwise, his career remains in limbo.

❚ Ferguson has edge B7