Ramesh awarded suspended sentence (19 February 1999)

19 February 1999

Ramesh awarded suspended sentence

Our Special Representative

CALCUTTA, Feb 18: Indian opener Sadagoppan Ramesh was awarded a one match suspended sentence for showing dissent in the Asian Test Championship match against Pakistan at the Eden Gardens.

Ramesh had shown South African umpire Dave Orchard his bat indicating that he had nicked the ball after being adjudged lbw off Wasim Akram on the second day of the match.

Orchard had complaint to match referee Cammie Smith on Wednesday evening and the hearing took place later in the evening and attended by Indian captain and coach besides the batsman.

However, taking into account that this was his first offence, Ramesh was given a one match (Test or One-day International) suspended sentence for a three-month period between Feb 18 and May 17.

No action was taken against wicket-keeper Nayan Mongia after he had rushed towards the stumps while appealing and thus violating the International Cricket Council (ICC) code of conduct.

Team sources, nevertheless, confirmed that the incident has been reported to the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) who were considering to impose a cash penalty on the wicket-keeper.

An informal meeting took place on Thursday in which Indian skipper Mohammad Azharuddin supported Mongia arguing that it was in the heat of the moment that the wicket-keeper rushed towards the bowler to congratulate him. He further claimed that Dave Orchard had misunderstood the action of Mongia.

Source :: Dawn (https://dawn.com/)