Lanka seek ‘clear rules’

COLOMBO: Sri Lanka’s sports minister called on the International Cricket Council to establish “simple, clear rules” Wednesday after Dinesh Chandimal was punished for ball tampering.
“Laws governing the offence / act of altering the condition of the ball are somewhat vague and lack clarity,” Faiszer Musthapha said in a statement. “I invite the ICC to revisit the applicable laws and ensure that a set of simple, clear and certain rules and procedures are put in place.”
He did not elaborate but the statement came after Chandimal, coach Chandika Hathurusingha and manager Asanka Gurusinha were sanctioned following a tampering scandal. Chandimal refused to take the field for two hours on the third day of the second Test against the West Indies last month after he was accused of ball tampering on the previous day. Chandimal, Hathurusingha and Gurusinha were banned for two Tests and four ODI for violating the spirit of the game by holding up the second Test against West Indies by two hours. At the start of the first Test against a touring South African team last week, Chandimal and his tourist counterpart Faf du Plessis said they wanted a list of do’s and don’ts from the ICC match referee.
Although the use of saliva or sweat to shine the ball is an accepted practice, using any other substance is prohibited. Match referee Javagal Srinath said Chandimal applied saliva containing the residue of something he had in his mouth to the ball, in violation of the ICC Code of Conduct. (AFP)