Sri Lanka skipper Dinesh Chandimal is set to miss the hosts’ Nidahas Trophy T20I against India (Monday 12th) and Bangladesh (Friday 16th) due to a “serious over rate offense”.
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Sri Lanka will lose Chandimal for their next two games after Chris Broad of the Emirates Elite Panel of ICC Match Referees, ruled the islanders to be four overs short of their target in yesterday’s match against Bangladesh at the R. Premadasa, when time allowances were taken into consideration.
Sri Lanka set Bangladesh a formidable target of 215 during the 3rd T20I of the Nidahas Trophy but failed to defend the score as the Tigers, led by Mushfiqur Rahim’s 35 ball 72, chased it down with 5 wickets to spare. The team was seen to have mid-pitch gatherings every so often, a move that could have contributed to the delay in completing the overs during the stipulated period of time.
In accordance with Article 2.5.2 of the ICC Code of Conduct for Players and Players Support Personnel, which relates to serious over-rate offences, players are fined 10 per cent of their match fees for the first two overs and 20 per cent per additional over their side failed to bowl in the allotted time, while the captain receives two suspension points.
As two suspension points equate to a ban from one Test or two ODIs or two T20Is, whatever comes first for the player, Chandimal has been suspended from his side’s next two games in the Nidahas Trophy, while each of the Sri Lankan players have received a fine of 60 per cent.
Chandimal pleaded not guilty to the offence, and, as such, Mr Broad announced his decision following a hearing that took place on Sunday afternoon. The hearing was attended by the match officials and the Sri Lanka cricket team management.
If Sri Lanka commit another serious over-rate breach in a T20I within 12 months of this offence with Chandimal as captain, it will be deemed as a second offence by Chandimal and he will receive between two and eight suspension points.
Suranga Lakmal, who has been named as vice-captain of the team, is yet to feature in the tournament and with Upul Tharanga already sitting on suspension points accumulated during his short tenor as Captain in 2017, Thisara Perera is likely to be given the responsibility of leading the team.
Chandimal, who leads the Test team, filled in as Sri Lanka skipper after regular leader Angelo Mathews failed to overcome an injury in time for the tournament.
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