Chandimal gets 1-test ban for ball-tampering
DUBAI, United Arab Emirates (AP) Sri Lanka captain Dinesh Chandimal has been banned for one test match after he was found guilty of changing the condition of the ball during the drawn second test against West Indies.
Chandimal admitted in a hearing after the second test ended at Gros Islet on Monday that he put something in his mouth during the second day's play. However, he said he couldn't recall what exactly it was before applying his saliva onto the ball on Friday.
Match referee Javagal Srinath handed Chandimal the maximum punishment available under the ICC code of conduct for ball-tampering, including a fine of 100 percent of his match fee.
Chandimal will miss the third and final test against West Indies, a day-night match starting at Barbados on June 23.
Srinath said TV footage showed that Chandimal ''took something from his pocket and put it into his mouth'' before the player spit on his finger and polished the ball.
West Indies won the first test by 226 runs.
