Sri Lanka's Dinesh Chandimal banned for one Test after being found guilty of changing condition of ball
Tuesday 19 June 2018 22:18, UK
Sri Lanka captain Dinesh Chandimal has been suspended for one Test after being found guilty of changing the condition of the ball, the International Cricket Council has announced.
The incident happened during day two of the second Test against Windies in Gros Islet, St Lucia, a match which finished in a draw.
Chandimal, who has been fined 100 per cent of his match fee and given two suspension points, will now miss the third and final Test against the Windies in Barbados from Saturday.
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Match referee Javagal Srinath said in an ICC statement: "After reviewing the footage of the incident, it is clear that Dinesh applied an artificial substance to the ball, namely saliva containing the residue of something he had in his mouth, an action which is prohibited under the ICC Code of Conduct.
"The footage shows that upon receiving the ball, Dinesh took something from his pocket and put it into his mouth. After sucking or chewing whatever he put in his mouth for a few seconds, Dinesh then proceeded to spit on his finger and polish the ball with his saliva which would have contained the residue of the artificial substance that he had in his mouth, on two separate occasions.
"During the hearing, Dinesh admitted to putting something in his mouth but couldn't remember what it was, which I found unconvincing as a defence and the fact remains it was an artificial substance."
The start to the third day's play in St Lucia was delayed by two hours on Saturday as the Sri Lanka players remained in their dressing room after being penalised five penalty runs - the punishment was handed out after umpires Aleem Dar and Ian Gould ruled the tourists had altered the condition of the ball.
The ICC issued a separate statement on Tuesday to announce that Chandimal, as well as Sri Lanka coach Chandika Hathurusinghe and manager Asanka Gurusinha, had been charged over the incident.
The statement read: "The three have been charged for their involvement in the Sri Lanka cricket team's refusal to take to the field in St Lucia at the start of Saturday's play, which caused a two-hour delay in the start of play. This action is alleged to amount to a serious breach of the Laws of Cricket and to be contrary to the spirit of the game."
Watch day one of the third Test, a day-nighter, live on Sky Sports Cricket from 6.55pm on Saturday, via the red button.
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