WORCESTERSHIRE expect to know later today whether they will have to replay their NatWest Trophy third round clash against Gloucestershire.

Their place in the competition has been thrown into doubt following claims by Gloucestershire that the County fielded an ineligible player in last week's game at New Road which Worcestershire won by three wickets.

The dispute centres around teenage paceman Kabir Ali who claimed two wickets in the match.

He played despite having appeared for the first team in this season's Benson and Hedges Cup before then ineligibly performing for the Worcestershire Cricket Board Xl in the first round of the NatWest Trophy.

The County's fate in the Trophy -- they are due to visit Leicestershire in the fourth round a week on Wednesday -- will now depend on a ruling from Lord's later today.

It was when Kabir played for the Board Xl against their Kent counterparts at Kidderminster's Chester Road ground in early May that he became ineligible.

Two senior players are permitted to play for the county's Board Xl provided they are uncapped, under 23 and have not played in the senior side before the first round of the Trophy.

He had, however, played in the Benson and Hedges Cup group games for Worcestershire before appearing for the Board Xl.

Under the new regulations, designed to prevent counties from filling their Board Xls with senior players, he should not then have appeared again for the senior side.

New Road secretary Mike Vockins said: "We don't believe there has been a breach of the board's regulations. The whole reason the regulation was brought in this season was to help young players making their way in the game.

"To ensure that, if they had already played for their county's Board Xl they would still be eligible for the full county side in later rounds.

"I'm surprised that anybody's even brought this up. And I certainly hope nobody is suggesting that Worcestershire have done anything underhand.

"It seems amazing that Kabir Ali played against Gloucestershire in the National League and in the Benson and Hedges Cup, and his qualification was perfectly proper, and now having played for what is in effect the County's third eleven someone should consider him unqualified."

Gloucestershire's chief executive Colin Sexstone said: "We are not accusing Worcestershire of cheating but there was a foul-up and their error was expensive for us.

"Cricket is a sport and a business and, as holders, the chance to reach a fourth one-day final in a row is important to us. At the very least the tie should be replayed."