Ball changed! Sri Lanka refuses to field in protest | Sunday Observer

Ball changed! Sri Lanka refuses to field in protest

17 June, 2018
Sri Lanka manager Asanka Gurusinha (right) and coach Chandika Hathurusinghe talk to match referee Javagal Srinath
Sri Lanka manager Asanka Gurusinha (right) and coach Chandika Hathurusinghe talk to match referee Javagal Srinath

Sri Lanka’s cricketers refused to take the field on the third day of the second cricket Test against the West Indies at St. Lucia after umpires Ian Gould and Aleem Dar changed the ball, the international media reported.

More than one hour of play was lost as Sri Lanka refused to take the field in protest at the change of the ball with the West Indies on an overnight 118 for 2 in reply to 253 made by Sri Lanka.

Broadcaster visuals of the Sri Lanka dressing room showed coach Chandika Hathurusingha, captain Dinesh Chandimal and team manager Asanka Gurusinha in discussion with match referee Javagal Srinath, the reports said.

According to the report the umpires had suspected a case of ball tampering which was the reason for changing the ball without accusing the Sri Lankans of any wrong doing.

It is understood that the umpires were concerned about the condition of the ball at the end of the first day’s play of the second Test.

“We did see the umpires looking at the ball a few times yesterday, but there was no statement made at the end of the day,” the official said. “It all happened this morning.”

After it appeared that a resolution had been reached to allow for play on the third day, the Sri Lankans first came onto the field.

However, after further discussions with the umpires, the Sri Lankans headed back to the dressing room.

Following concerns raised by umpires Aleem Dar and Ian Gould about the condition of the ball nearing the end of the second day, Sri Lanka were advised before the start of play on Saturday that they could not continue with the existing ball. After animated discussions the Sri Lankans agreed to the change of ball and to continue playing although it is understood that they will be contesting the ball-tampering charge. Five penalty runs have been added to the West Indies total. The first and only time a match has been forfeited in the history of Test cricket was in 2006, after Pakistan were penalised five runs for ball tampering in the fourth Test against England at The Oval. 

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