Published: Jun 17, 2018, 03:45 PM (IST)
Edited: Jun 17, 2018, 09:47 PM (IST)
ICC had charged Sri Lanka captain Dinesh Chandimal, with “changing the condition of the ball” under Article 2.2.9 of ICC’s code of conduct. Chandimal was accused for tampering with the ball during the second Test against West Indies at the Darren Sammy International Stadium, Gros Islet, St Lucia. The Sri Lankans took field after a two-hour delay, “under protest,” after umpires Aleem Dar and Ian Gould asked for the ball to be changed after play on Day Two. Sri Lanka Cricket later released a statement defending its cricketers.
Later, an ICC statement said: “Dinesh Chandimal has pleaded not guilty to breaching Article 2.2.9 of the ICC Code of Conduct and, as such, Javagal Srinath of the Panel of ICC Match Referees will hold a hearing following the conclusion of the St Lucia Test against the Windies.”
BREAKING: Sri Lanka captain Dinesh Chandimal has been charged for breaching Level 2.2.9 of the ICC Code of Conduct.
More to come… #WIvSL pic.twitter.com/EGU278hZug
— ICC (@ICC) June 17, 2018
As per the ICC website, other cricketers who have been charged under 2.2.9 since 2016 are Faf du Plessis, Dasun Shanaka, and Cameron Bancroft. Bancroft was infamously charged during the SandpaperGate incident during the Cape Town Test between South Africa and Australia earlier this year. Australian captain Steven Smith and vice-captain David Warner were charged under 2.2.1 and 2.2.2 for the same incident.
On field, Sri Lanka fought back grittily, despite the incident. They restricted the West Indians to a 47-run lead (Lahiru Kumara took 4 wickets and Kasun Rajitha 3) and were 34 for 1 at stumps.
Brief scores:
Sri Lanka 253 (Dinesh Chandimal 119*; Kemar Roach 4 for 49, Shannon Gabriel 5 for 59) and 34 for 1 trail West Indies 300 (Devon Smith 61, Shane Dowrich 55; Kasun Rajitha 3 for 49, Lahiru Kumara 4 for 86) by 13 runs.
