Hampshire have announced that the New Zealand allrounder Scott Kuggeleijn will no longer play for them after his signing drew significant backlash from supporters and club staff, including members of their women's team.
Kuggeleijn, 34, was accused of rape and indecent assault in 2015. He was found not guilty two years later after an initial trial delivered a hung jury. He has played 23 times for New Zealand across formats and was due to play Hampshire's final four County Championship matches as an overseas player.
Kuggeleijn's subsequent selection for New Zealand sparked protests from some supporters due to details that emerged during his trial, as reported by the New Zealand Herald. It was revealed, for example, that he had sent the complainant a text message to apologise for being "pretty persistent", and he said in court that the complainant "might have said, 'no, no' a few times" on the night in question.
Hampshire announced his signing as a replacement for Delano Potgieter on their website on Tuesday, though did not post about it on social media or distribute a press release. His inclusion in their initial 15-man squad to face Warwickshire was heavily criticised on social media, and the club announced a U-turn shortly before the toss on Wednesday morning.
"Having reflected and listened to feedback from our staff and supporters, Hampshire Cricket can confirm that Scott Kuggeleijn will not represent the club," Hampshire said in a statement. "We value the passion of our fanbase and thank everyone who took the time to share their views."
Cricinfo has learned that some players in Hampshire's women's squad were taken aback by Kuggeleijn's signing. They had planned to register their displeasure with club officials on Wednesday morning but learned shortly before doing so that Kuggeleijn had been removed from the squad.
Hampshire have not yet confirmed whether Kuggeleijn - who was in attendance for the opening day of their game on Wednesday - remains under contract, or if his deal has been cancelled altogether. The club sit bottom of Division One heading into the final month of the season and face the prospect of relegation.
"Our focus now turns to supporting the team through the final four County Championship fixtures of the season," Hampshire's statement added. "We encourage everyone to unite behind the team as we enter a crucial stage of the campaign."
Russell Domingo, the club's head coach, declined to comment further on Wednesday evening. "[There is] a lot happening," he said. "The club has put out a statement and has dealt with it. It is not my place to be commenting on it. We need to move forward... We've all got to respect that particular decision that has been made."
Kuggeleijn has played for New Zealand, Northern Districts, and for several overseas franchises since his acquittal, though has never played county cricket.
