Carberry sues club over axing

MICHAEL CARBERRY is taking legal action against Leicestershire after he was stripped of the club captaincy.

Carberry, the only nonwhite British captain in county cricket, was stood down by head coach Paul Nixon in the aftermath of a heavy Royal London OneDay Cup defeat in which Nottinghamshire piled up 409 for seven.

The 37-year-old was originally retained in the squad for the following match at Derbyshire but a board member advised that this was inappropriate so he did not travel. He has been on paid leave since with his position at the club effectively untenable since he was sacked and replaced by Paul Horton on May 25. Lawyers acting on behalf of the batsman, who played six Tests for England, will take up the issue with Leicestershire tomorrow.

While Leicestershire are understood to have made their decision on performances, a source insisted that Carberry had been given no prior warning that his position was under threat.

Carberry, who had a cancerous tumour removed in 2016, joined the club last year on a two-year contract and was made captain for this season. Leicestershire won one and lost one of four championship matches and beat Northamptonshire in the Royal London Cup before the defeat by Notts.

Carberry’s agent, Allen Blackford, declined to comment. Leicestershire did not return Mail On Sunday calls.