MELBOURNE, Australia, CMC – Brisbane Heat coach Darren Lehmann has been slapped with a AUS$3 000 fine (US$ 3 111) for accusing West Indies off-spinner Marlon Samuels of throwing.
Cricket Australia announced the punishment Thursday but said it would be suspended for two years. Lehmann also received an official reprimand.
The former Australia batsman was found to have breached Rule 9 of CA’s Code of Behaviour regarding “detrimental public comment” after he questioned Samuels’s bowling action, following a clash between the Heat and the Jamaican’s Melbourne Renegades a week ago.
According to CA, players and officials must not “denigrate or criticise another player or denigrate or criticise an official, umpire, referee or team against which they have played or will play, whether in relation to incidents which occurred in a match or otherwise; denigrate or criticise another player or official by inappropriately commenting on any aspect of his or her performance, abilities or characteristics.”
Lehmann told reporters he had spoken to umpires about Samuels’s action, complaining that he should not be allowed to bowl in the BBL.
“He couldn’t bowl in the IPL (Indian Premier League) last year, yet he can bowl in the BBL. We’ve got to seriously look at what we’re doing. Are we here to play cricket properly or what,” Lehmann said last week.
“If he’s deemed legal, I’m totally understanding of that. But, from my point of view from 20 years cricket, I’ve got a problem with 120 kilometres per hour off no steps.”
