Sri Lanka captain, Dinesh Chandimal, coach and manager admit to breaching Level 3 of the ICC Code of Conduct

After the ball-tampering controversy in the recently concluded Test match between Windies and Sri Lankan, the match-referee had imposed charges on Sri Lanka captain Dinesh Chandimal. The Lankan team didn’t walk out to the field when it was time for play as the umpires had decided to change the ball and award 5 penalty runs to the opposition. The two on-field umpires Aleem Dar and Ian Gould were convinced Chandimal had ‘changed the condition of the ball’

The captain didn’t accept the charges and pleaded not guilty and thus there was an official hearing called by the match referee Javagal Srinath after the end of the game. After the same Chandimal, team head coach Chandika Hathurusinghe and manager Asanka Gurusinha have admitted to breaching Article 2.3.1, a Level 3 offence, which relates to “conduct that is contrary to the spirit of the game”.

Judicial Commissioner to determine the appropriate sanction

Following their admission, the ICC, in accordance with Article 5.2 of the ICC Code of Conduct, has appointed The Hon Michael Beloff QC as the Judicial Commissioner to hear the case to determine the appropriate sanction.

Mr Beloff has been appointed as the Judicial Commissioner to hear Mr Chandimal’s appeal against the match referee’s decision for changing the condition of the ball and, as per Article 5.2.3, will use Friday’s hearing in that appeal to hold a preliminary hearing to establish the procedural schedule on the Level 3 charges.

The three were charged by the ICC Chief Executive David Richardson on Tuesday for their involvement in the Sri Lankan 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 was alleged to amount to a serious breach of the Laws of Cricket and to be contrary to the spirit of the game.

All Level 3 breaches carry an imposition of between four and eight suspension points.

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