Three players from the Guyana side that won the West Indies Championship were fined for breaching the Code of Conduct during their final round match.
At the end of the round-robin tournament on Saturday (April 12), Guyana finished on top of the table with 126.6 points, pipping Barbados to the title by 5.4 points. Barbados beat the Leeward Islands in their final match by three wickets, but Guyana's draw against Trinidad and Tobago was enough to keep them on top.
Match 25, Trinidad & Tobago Red Force vs Guyana Harpy Eagles
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- Ball by ball Over
This is Guyana's third title on the trot, to go with their five consecutive victories between 2015 and 2019. However, shortly before the latest result was confirmed, there was some unsavoury news.
Veerasammy Permaul, Kevlon Anderson fined for ball-tampering
A media release from Cricket West Indies on Saturday evening read: "Guyana Harpy Eagles players Veerasammy Permaul, Kevlon Anderson, and Ronaldo Alimohamed have been found guilty of breaching the Cricket West Indies Code of Conduct in the seventh and final round of the West Indies Championship match against Trinidad & Tobago Red Force at Queen’s Park Oval.
"Permaul was fined 75 per cent of his match fee for a Level 2 breach of the Cricket West Indies Code of Conduct on day one of the contest. The spinner breached Article 2.1–2.5; Paragraph 3.8 of the CWI Code of Conduct for Players and Player Support Personnel, which relates to 'changing the condition of the ball in breach of Law 42.3 (41.3) of the Laws of Cricket.'
"Additionally, Kevlon Anderson was fined 90 per cent of his match fee for a similar offence on the third day, during the second innings of the Trinidad & Tobago Red Force. Anderson accepted the sanction proposed by the match referee, and as such, there was no need for a formal hearing."
There was controversy during both of Guyana's bowling innings, as T&T were awarded a five-run penalty for each instance following lengthy discussions between the on-field umpires over the condition of the ball, which was changed on both occasions after consulting the batters in the middle – usually the case when the fielding team has been suspected of illegally changing the condition of the ball.
Under Law 41.3, players are not allowed to wilfully damage the ball except in carrying out their normal duties. Fielders may polish the ball on their clothing, provided no artificial substance is used and that the only natural substance used is sweat. Cricket West Indies have not specified in what way Permaul and Anderson breached Law 41.3.
Imlach: Umpires made a decision with no real evidence
"Nothing was used. (The umpires) just said they saw some foreign substance on the ball," said Guyana skipper Tevin Imlach after the match. "Guys are using sunscreen and stuff like that and if they sweat it’s going to run down. I don’t know if that’s what happened. I didn’t get to touch the ball on the first occasion. They just said they saw something and I wasn’t allowed to touch the ball.
"The second time around, there was absolutely nothing (on the ball). When I did touch the ball, I didn’t feel anything. It just came down to the umpires making a decision with no real evidence to support anything. It doesn’t look good, but it’s out of our control now."
Emrit: Ball-tampering charge puts a stain on Guyana's title win
Trinidad & Tobago coach Rayad Emrit was of the opinion that the sanctions were not strong enough: "I think it does (put a stain on Guyana's title win). They were on top of the game for most of it and we know cricket is a gentleman’s game. You don’t want to have these things creeping in.
"You saw what happened to Australia (with sandpaper gate). Cricket West Indies can probably put bigger sanctions into these sorts of things. For a team to be playing fair and another team playing unfair, it really dampens the spirit of the game. And a very high-profile game like this, especially for a championship, it was a bit depressing for the team and myself as well."
Ronaldo Alimohamed also fined for Level 2 breach
Also mentioned in CWI's release for a Level 2 breach was Guyana pacer Ronaldo Alimohamed, who was found in violation of Article 2.1-2.5; Paragraph 3.6 of the Code of Conduct – "Throw the ball (or any other item of cricket equipment such as a water bottle) at or near player or official in an inappropriate and/or dangerous manner."
Alimohamed initially denied the charge which came with a fine of 60 per cent of his match fee, but was found guilty following a hearing with match referee Michael Ragoonath, and subsequently fined 65 per cent of his match fee.
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