Chandimal, Sri Lanka Coach and Manager admit to ‘serious’ code violation

ESPNcricinfo: Sri Lanka Captain Dinesh Chandimal, Coach Chandika Hathurusingha, and Manager Asanka Gurusinha have admitted to breaching the ICC Code of Conduct that relates to “conduct that is contrary to the spirit of the game” and could be suspended for up to two Tests.

They were charged with a level 3 offence by ICC Chief Executive David Richardson, after Sri Lanka refused to take the field on the third morning of the second Test against West Indies in St. Lucia and delayed the start of play by two hours. Sri Lanka did this after the on-field umpires had informed them ten minutes before the start of play that they were changing the ball because they suspected its condition had been illegally altered.

«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,» the ICC said.

The ICC appointed Michael Beloff QC as the Judicial Commissioner to hear the case against Chandimal, Hathurusingha and Gurusinha to determine the appropriate sanction.

Chandimal eventually brought his players on to the field after a two-hour delay, and Sri Lanka Cricket issued a release denying wrongdoing and said they were playing «under protest». The Sri Lanka Captain later pleaded not guilty to the charge of ball-tampering, but video footage suggested he had taken something from his pocket, put it in his mouth, and applied saliva on the ball soon after.

The ICC Match Referee Javagal Srinath found Chandimal›s explanation unsatisfactory and gave him two suspension points – meaning he would miss the third Test against West Indies – and fined him 100% of his match fees. Chandimal, however, appealed the ball-tampering verdict and his case will be heard by Beloff on June 22.

The ICC said Beloff would use Chandimal›s appeal hearing to «establish the procedural schedule on the Level 3 charges.»

A person guilty of a level 3 offence could get between four and eight suspension points, meaning that Chandimal – irrespective of his appeal against the ball-tampering ban – could miss the third Test against West Indies in Barbados from June 23. If coach and manager are found guilty, they will not be allowed to be in the dressing room while they serve out their suspensions. Chandimal is allowed to be inside the dressing room, but cannot step out into the field of play, even to carry drinks.