Sri Lanka skipper Dinesh Chandimal has denied all the charges of ball-tampering imposed on him by the International Cricket Council (ICC). He has pleaded not guilty to breaching Article 2.2.9 of the ICC Code of Conduct.
However, after the conclusion of the second Test, Chandimal will face a hearing held by match referee Javagal Srinath.
“Dinesh Chandimal has pleaded not guilty to breaching Article 2.2.9 of the ICC Code of Conduct and, as such, Javagal Srinath of the Panel of ICC Match Referees will hold a hearing following the conclusion of the St Lucia Test against the Windies,” read an ICC statement.
The on-field umpires Aleem Dar and Ian Gould, and third umpire Richard Kettleborough had charged Chandimal after play on June 16 for changing the condition of the ball during the second Test against West Indies in St Lucia.
The officials imposed the charges after going through the television footage from the final session of the 2nd day's play which showed Chandimal taking sweets out from his pocket and putting those in his mouth, before applying the artificial substance over the ball which the umpires viewed as an attempt to change its condition.
To protest against the charges, the Lankans refused to take the field on day 3. The match started with a delay and West Indies were awarded with five penalty runs.
Meanwhile, the Sri Lanka Cricket (SLC) has clarified its stance in a statement which said "SLC advised the team to take the field to ensure the continuity of the match and wish to commend the decision taken by the team to continue with the game 'under protest' to ensure the upholding of the spirit of the game."