Sri Lanka's Chandimal suspended

GROS ISLET, St Lucia (CMC):

Sri Lankan skipper Dinesh Chandimal was suspended for one Test match and fined 100 per cent of his match fee after he was found guilty of altering the condition of the ball during the just- concluded second Test match against the West Indies.

The punishment was handed down yesterday by Javagal Srinath of the Emirates Elite Panel of ICC Match Referees and means Chandimal will miss the final day-night Test match at Kensington Oval, which begins on Saturday.

Additionally, Sri Lankan coach Chandika Hathurusinghe and manager Asanka Gurusinha were also charged with a breach of Article 2.3.1, a Level 3 offence which relates to "conduct that is contrary to the spirit of the game".

They have been charged with their involvement in the Sri Lankan cricket team's refusal to take to the field at the start of Saturday's play, causing a two-hour delay in the start of play.

Dinesh Chandimal will miss the final Test match at Kensington Oval

Chandimal had been reported by on-field umpires Aleem Dar and Ian Gould, as well as television umpire Richard Kettleborough on day two, after they had concerns over the methods Sri Lanka had been using to maintain the ball.

The 28-year-old Chandimal had denied the allegations.

He is the fourth cricketer to be found guilty of committing the offence within the last three months. Back in March, Australian captain Steve Smith, along with vice-captain David Warner and Cameron Bancroft were all banned after being found guilty of ball-tampering.

In a press release issued by the ICC, it was revealed that Chandimal was given the maximum sentence for the offence: two suspension points and a fine of 100 per cent of his match fee.