Fears of incurring massive legal fees have moved the Irish Cricket Union (ICU) to suspend the club ban which it imposed on the Brigade and Ireland batsman Stephen Smyth last summer. But the five-year ban from representative cricket, which effectively ends Smyth's international career, still stands.

Smyth (31), was banned for a breach of discipline in the national team hotel after a match against the South African Cricket Academy team in Lurgan last July. He is alleged to have assaulted his team-mate, Gordon Cooke, in the course of an evening.

As well as the representative ban, the ICU sought to have Smyth banned for a year from club cricket under a reciprocal disciplinary agreement with the North West Union, his provincial governing body. But their legal advisers have told the union that the agreements in question may be imperfectly worded, raising doubts about the feasibility of implementing the club ban.

In a statement yesterday, the ICU said: "To determine the validity of the (reciprocal) arrangements would mean a High Court action costing thousands of pounds. The ICU firmly believes that, even if successful, such expenditure would be unwarranted and unwise, particularly when every effort - financial and otherwise - is being made to ensure that the international side succeeds in the ICC Trophy next year and qualifies for the World Cup finals in 2003.

"The union is also conscious of the considerable financial support it receives from Government, Sports Councils, companies and individuals North and South and believes such valuable resources should not be dissipated in this way."

The statement adds that the ICU recognises the need to amend the disciplinary arrangements between itself and the provincial unions.

Smyth will now be free to play for Brigade in local competitions run by the North West Cricket Union. But the five-year representative ban will also preclude him from playing in the Irish Senior Cup, which is organised by the ICU.