Confident of getting a judgment in his favour, Sri Lanka skipper Dinesh Chandimal appealed against the ICC's decision to suspend him from the third Test of the ongoing tour of the West Indies because of ball-tampering.
Chandimal had been charged by the ICC for ball-tampering during the second Test here after video evidence suggested that he applied saliva to the ball shortly after putting what appeared to be a sweet in his mouth.
He pleaded not guilty to the charge, before attending the hearing where match referee Javagal Srinath, after utilising the time available to him under the code to make his decision, handed Chandimal the maximum punishment, which was two suspension points and a fine of 100 percent of his match fee.
Commenting on his decision, Srinath had said: Dinesh admitted to putting something in his mouth but couldn't remember what it was, which I found unconvincing as a defence and the fact remains it was an artificial substance."
Here is where Chandimal’s defence lies. The Sri Lanka Cricket Board believes that there is no way ICC could determine what was inside Chandimal’s mouth in that footage which has been used against him as an evidence.
According to Chandimal, he had kept multiple things inside his pocket, including cough lozenges (which cannot be applied on the ball) and almonds (nothing wrong). But he cannot recall what exactly he had in his mouth during that particular incident.
He was found guilty of changing the condition of the ball during the second day's play of the second Test, which concluded on Monday.
ICC Chief Executive David Richardson backed the Playing Control Team, when he said: "The ICC fully supports the match officials in their decision and will continue to do so in any other such instances."