Players sporting beards could find themselves unable to play Southern Premier League cricket this summer if a lucrative sponsorship deal with a prominent shaving foam company goes ahead.
The SPL has been without a backer since a two-year deal with British Gas ended last season.
But it is believed that Close Shave, a global razor and shaving supplier, are keen to sponsor the Premier - on the strict understanding all the players provide a clean cut image when they take the field every Saturday afternoon.
"We want everyone turning up freshly shaved. No beards, no stubble, and certainly not looking as though they've just got out of bed or been out until the early hours," said a Close Shave marketing spokesman.
"We'd want our shaving products in every household bathroom and being used by all the cricketers, so they turn up at matches giving the right impression as fit, razor sharp ready for the action.
"Obviously special dispensations will apply where beards are worn on religious grounds, but we’d need players to supply written proof from the vicar at their local church before this concession can be agreed."
Concern was also expressed that the surface of cricket balls could be affected if wiped against bearded or stubbled faces. The SPL is anxious to avoid any repetition of recent incidents in Cape Town.
The 'no beards' rule is bound to create a reaction from several Premier Division captains, with Havant double title winner Ben Walker, St Cross Symondians' skipper Tom Foyle and Lymington's Simon Beetham among those who will be twitching their whiskers in the lead up to the start of the new season on May 5.
Among the other prominent local cricketers set to be foaming at the chin at this news are Bashley (Rydal) spin all-rounder Sam Thomson [pictured], Lymington' award winning pace bowler Matt Metcalfe, Basingstoke & North Hants new boy Ben Thane, and Chris Russell, who has taken over the Ventnor captaincy.
The SPL has been without a backer since a two-year deal with British Gas ended last season.
But it is believed that Close Shave, a global razor and shaving supplier, are keen to sponsor the Premier - on the strict understanding all the players provide a clean cut image when they take the field every Saturday afternoon.
"We want everyone turning up freshly shaved. No beards, no stubble, and certainly not looking as though they've just got out of bed or been out until the early hours," said a Close Shave marketing spokesman.
"We'd want our shaving products in every household bathroom and being used by all the cricketers, so they turn up at matches giving the right impression as fit, razor sharp ready for the action.
"Obviously special dispensations will apply where beards are worn on religious grounds, but we’d need players to supply written proof from the vicar at their local church before this concession can be agreed."
Concern was also expressed that the surface of cricket balls could be affected if wiped against bearded or stubbled faces. The SPL is anxious to avoid any repetition of recent incidents in Cape Town.
The 'no beards' rule is bound to create a reaction from several Premier Division captains, with Havant double title winner Ben Walker, St Cross Symondians' skipper Tom Foyle and Lymington's Simon Beetham among those who will be twitching their whiskers in the lead up to the start of the new season on May 5.
Among the other prominent local cricketers set to be foaming at the chin at this news are Bashley (Rydal) spin all-rounder Sam Thomson [pictured], Lymington' award winning pace bowler Matt Metcalfe, Basingstoke & North Hants new boy Ben Thane, and Chris Russell, who has taken over the Ventnor captaincy.
