Birmingham: Australian batsman David Warner was suspended on Thursday for the remainder of the Champions Trophy as well as the two Ashes series warm-up games and slapped with a fine of Aus $11,500 (approx Rs 6.35 lakh) for being involved in a physical altercation with an England player.
Warner, who appeared for a disciplinary hearing, pleaded guilty to breaching Rule 6: Unbecoming Behaviour.
“Cricket Australia advises that David Warner has been suspended and fined for breaching the Cricket Australia Code of Behaviour,” the CA said in a statement.
“CA Senior Code of Behaviour Commissioner, The Hon. Justice Gordon Lewis AM, fined Warner $11,500 and suspended from the remainder of Australia’s ICC Champions Trophy campaign as well as the Australian team’s two tour matches before the first Ashes Test against Somerset and Worcestershire,” the statement added.
Warner will be eligible for selection for the first Ashes Test to be held in Nottimgham from July 10.
The punishment effectively means Warner will miss out on only one international match if Australia fail to qualify for the semifinals of the Champions Trophy. Yet to register a win, Australia play their last match against Sri Lanka on June 17.
Warner was involved in a physical altercation with England player Joe Root in the early hours of Sunday morning following the Champions Trophy match between the teams in Birmingham.
The incident reportedly took place in a Birmingham bar and involved alcohol after Australia lost by 48 runs to England in their tournament-opener.
The CA further stated, “Rule 6 states: Without limiting any other rule, players and officials must not at any time engage in behaviour unbecoming to a representative player or official that could (a) bring them or the game of game into disrepute or (b) be harmful to the interests of cricket.”
Warner, who played for Delhi Daredevils in the IPL, most recently hit the headlines after being fined last month for breaching CA’s code of behaviour following his Twitter rant against two journalists.
He subsequently apologised for it but insisted that his outburst was in order to defend himself. (PTI)