Chandimal charged in ball-tampering row

Sri Lanka skipper Dinesh Chandimal breached Level 2.2.9 of the ICC Code of Conduct that relates to altering the condition of the ball.

Umpire Aleem Dar inspects the ball while Sri Lanka skipper Dinesh Chandimal (third from left) looks on.

Sri Lanka captain Dinesh Chandimal has been charged for breaching Level 2.2.9 of the ICC Code of Conduct that refers to changing the condition of the ball.

During the second Test match against West Indies in Gros Islet, the Sri Lankan team refused to take the field after the umpires held them guilty for shining the ball in an illegal manner.

Chandimal delayed the start of play on Day 3 as umpires Ian Gould and Aleem Dar decided to change the ball. They also levied a penalty of five runs against the Islanders. The Windies, instead of starting the day at 118 for two, began at 123.

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Discussions with umpires and match referees caused a two-hour delay.

Sri Lanka Cricket also released an official statement trying to protect the integrity of their players.

In March, the cricketing world was taken aback by the ball-tampering incident involving Australian cricketers Steve Smith, Cameron Bancroft and David Warner in Cape Town against South Africa.

The ICC announced a one-Test ban, along with a 100 per cent fine of match fees, for Smith. But Cricket Australia made the punishment stringent by banning Smith, Warner and Bancroft from all forms of international cricket.

Smith and Warner were handed 12-month bans, while Bancroft was banned for nine months.