Lehmann handed suspended fine for action query

Updated December 28, 2012 00:39:06

Brisbane Heat coach Darren Lehmann has been hit with an official Cricket Australia reprimand for his controversial comments questioning the legality of West Indian all-rounder Marlon Samuels' bowling action.

Lehmann, in Sydney preparing his side for Friday night's Big Bash League match with the winless Sydney Thunder, was found guilty of breaching CA's code of behaviour following a hearing via a phone hook-up.

For his troubles, Lehmann received a $3000 fine suspended for two years.

Lehmann raised the ire of CA for questioning Samuels' fast-paced offspinners - which led to the West Indian being banned from the Indian Premier League earlier this year - in Brisbane's five-wicket loss to the Melbourne Renegades last weekend.

"I just want something done. He couldn't bowl in the IPL last year, yet he can bowl in the BBL," Lehmann said after the match.

"If he's deemed legal, I'm totally understanding of that. But from my point of view, from 20 years of cricket, I've got a problem with 120km/h off no (run-up) steps."

As a result, CA deemed the former Test batsman had breached Rule 9: Detrimental Public Comment in CA's code of behaviour.

The rule states players or officials must not "denigrate or criticise another player or denigrate or criticise an official, umpire, referee or team".

Tags: sport, cricket, brisbane-4000

First posted December 27, 2012 19:44:37

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Five suspended in IPL fixing investigation

Updated May 16, 2012 06:22:23

Five uncapped Indian cricketers have been provisionally suspended following allegations of spot foxing in the lucrative Indian Premier League.

The Indian cricket board (BCCI) has also ordered a probe into the accusations, made by a local television channel.

"The president BCCI has immediately appointed Ravi Sawani (former head of ICC anti-corruption and security Unit) as the commissioner to make a preliminary enquiry," the BCCI said in a statement.

The five cricketers - TP Sudhindra (Deccan), Mohnish Mishra (Pune), Amit Yadav (Punjab), Shalabh Srivastav (Punjab) and Abhinav Bali - will remain suspended from all cricketing activities pending the investigation, the BCCI said.

Out of the five cricketers, Bali has not played in any of IPL's five editions.

Footage from India TV appeared to show an IPL player negotiating a fee for bowling a no-ball, while another said he received under-the-table payments above his contracted fee.

Each of the nine franchises has a salary cap and the player in question has not been capped by the national team, meaning he cannot be paid more than 3 million Indian rupees ($56,200) according to IPL rules.

The BCCI had sought complete footage of the 'sting operation' from the channel and later had a teleconference with the IPL governing council this afternoon where the decisions were taken.

Last year, Pakistan players Salman Butt, Mohammad Asif and Mohammad Amir were jailed in Britain for their role in a spot-fixing scandal relating to a Test match against England at Lord's in August 2010.

The spot-fixing scam, which shook the cricketing world, came to light after a British newspaper recorded sports agent Mazhar Majeed boasting of how he could arrange for players to rig elements of matches for money.

The International Cricket Council subsequently banned the three players for a minimum of five years.

Reuters

Tags: cricket, sport, india

First posted May 16, 2012 06:10:10

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