CPL to not take any action against Kieron Pollard for no-ball controversy
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Following an investigation, Caribbean Premier League authorities have decided not to take any action against Kieron Pollard, who was accused of bowling an intentional no-ball to Evin Lewis in a CPL match. The incident took place in a match between Barbados Tridents and St Kitts & Nevis Patriots.
"The Hero CPL remains firmly committed to ensuring that the tournament is played within the laws and spirit of cricket and welcome Pollard's comments confirming that there was no ill-intent in what happened when he bowled the final ball of the match to Evin Lewis of the Patriots," a release by CPL stated.
The burly Trinidadian was criticized by the commentators and fans alike for not upholding the spirit of the game after bowling what looked like a deliberate no-ball when the scores were level. The no-ball denied St Kitts & Nevis Patriots’ batsman Evin Lewis, who was batting on 97 runs, the chance to score the second-fastest Twenty20 century of all time.Â
Later in the match, Pollard stated that the no-ball was unintentional and stuck by that version during the in-house investigation. “I welcomed an investigation as I’ve maintained all along that the no-ball was not intentional, and I’m pleased to have the support of the CPL. It’s a very important tournament for me and one I thrive in. I play the game hard but I take my position as a leader seriously. I also have a great deal of respect for Evin Lewis – both as team-mate and opponent,” Pollard was then quoted as saying by the Trinidad Express.
“When I took up that ball in that last delivery, I had one thing in my mind: Trying to bowl a delivery, my best delivery – what has been working for me throughout the tournament – a short delivery to see if he (will) have a waft at it, to see if it can go up in the air and we can get him out.
“Unfortunately, (the) stride went for that extra, I stepped over the mark and I think that has been the talking point, of what actually happened, the actual no-ball itself. It wasn’t intentional, nothing was intentional at any point in time.”
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