Dinesh Chandimal banned from national team for two Tests and four ODIs

The trio have admitted to the act of breaching ICC’s code of conduct. During the Test against West Indies last month, the team had deliberately delayed the play as they had refused to take up their place on the field on the third day of the second Test at St Lucia. Chandimal was also dismissed from playing the third Test against West Indies due to his act of ball tampering.

“The independent Judicial Commissioner, The Hon Michael Beloff QC, today handed Sri Lanka captain Dinesh Chandimal, coach Chandika Hathurusinghe and manager Asanka Gurusinha eight suspension points, which means the trio have also been suspended for the first four ODIs along with both the Tests against South Africa," the ICC release stated.

“The three were charged by the ICC Chief Executive David Richardson on 19 June and had pleaded guilty to breaching Level 3, Article 2.3.1, which relates to "conduct that is contrary to the spirit of the game", during last month's St Lucia Test against the West Indies,” it further added.

On the match day, Chandimal had been pulled up by on-field umpires Ian Gould and Aleem Dar for changing the condition of the ball. The Sri Lanka captain had put something in his mouth before using the saliva to shine the ball. Match referee Javagal Srinath was spotted discussing with the Sri Lankan team management and it was nearly after a two-hour long delay that the play could resume. 

“The Chairman of the ICC Code of Conduct Commission had held a hearing over video conference on Wednesday, 11 July, to determine the sanction, and, after more than six hours of hearing, which was attended by legal counsels of both the sides, had reserved his decision,” the ICC said.

“During the hearing, however, it was mutually agreed that, since the minimum sanction for a Level 3 offence was suspension from two Tests, the three will not participate in the Galle Test (played from 12-14 July) and Colombo Test (to be played from 20-24 July), and these will be credited against the sanction imposed by the Judicial Commissioner," it added.