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Sri Lanka captain Dinesh Chandimal has been suspended for the third and final Test of the series against West Indies after he was found guilty of changing the condition of the ball during the second Test.What’s worse for Sri Lanka, Chandimal, coach Chandika Hathurusinghe and manager Asanka Gurusinha, could miss between two to four further Tests, after being charged with “conduct contrary to the spirit of the game” after their side had refused to take the field for almost two hours on the third morning.Chandimal had been charged by the ICC for ball tampering while the Test was on after video evidence indicated that on the second day’s play, he was taking sweets out from his left pocket, putting them in his mouth, before applying saliva to the ball within the space of a few seconds.Chandimal pleaded not guilty then and later attended a hearing with match referee Javagal Srinath, his team management and other match officials at the end of the match in which the video evidence was used and the Sri Lanka captain admitted putting something in his mouth but wasn’t able to recall what it was, according to the ICC release. Srinath, as a result, handed Chandimal the maximum punishment available under the code, which was two suspension points and a fine of 100% of his match fee.”After reviewing the footage of the incident, it is clear that Dinesh applied an artificial substance to the ball, namely saliva containing the residue of something he had in his mouth, an action which is prohibited under the ICC Code of Conduct,” Srinath said in the release.”The footage shows that upon receiving the ball, Dinesh took something from his pocket and put it into his mouth. After sucking or chewing whatever he put in his mouth for a few seconds, Dinesh then proceeded to spit on his finger and polish the ball with his saliva which would have contained the residue of the artificial substance that he had in his mouth, on two separate occasions.”During the hearing, Dinesh admitted to putting something in his mouth but couldn’t remember what it was, which I found unconvincing as a defence and the fact remains it was an artificial substance.”In the pre-series briefing held on the back of the ICC Cricket Committee recommendations, both the sides were explicitly told that the match officials would be extra vigilant towards all aspects of fair play, including changing the condition of the ball and as such it is disappointing that this has happened.”It is understood that Sri Lanka had objected to the match officials’ initial charge partly on technical grounds, and this was the reason they stayed off the field for two hours. Although the tampering had occurred in the third session of the second day, the umpires had only viewed the corresponding footage before play on the third morning, and only after viewing the footage did they impose five penalty runs, and change the ball.Part of what Sri Lanka’s team management had objected to was the timing of the match officials’ charge. They were only told roughly ten minutes before the scheduled start on day three that a player stood accused of ball-tampering. They made the case that the issue should have been dealt with on the previous day itself. Both Sri Lanka’s team management and the board in Colombo have since been tight-lipped on what their other objections could possibly have been. Long before the hearing had taken place, the board had issued a release stating that it would “take all necessary steps to defend any player, in the event any unwarranted allegation is brought against a member of the team”.Chandimal has the right of appeal – an appeal that must be lodged within 48 hours. But it is likely that SLC’s focus will now move to the more serious “spirit of cricket” charge. If found guilty there, Chandimal, the coach and the manager could all stand to miss both Tests against South Africa in July, in addition to further ODIs. The charge is a Level 3 offence and breaching that carries an imposition of four to eight suspension points.One thing that complicates Sri Lanka’s situation is that there is no strong leadership at SLC at present. The board is effectively defunct because the previous administrators had failed to hold elections before their term elapsed. SLC is presently under a caretaker “competent authority”, appointed by the nation’s government, while fresh elections are organised. These charges have arrived at a time in which SLC leadership is especially inexperienced.The ICC’s imposition of a suspension on Chandimal, when it had not suspended Faf du Plessis for a very similar offence in Hobart in 2016, is understood to be down to a change in ICC policy. Following the ball-tampering incident involving Australia in Cape Town earlier in the year, match officials have been instructed to impose the harshest possible penalties to ball-tamperers. In any case, the playing conditions relating to tampering are in the process of becoming more stringent, even if those new rules will not come into effect until the end of the year.The loss of Chandimal for the third Test is a serious blow to Sri Lanka. Even if an appeal is lodged, it is unlikely any further hearing can be held before Saturday, when the third Test is due to begin. Not only had Chandimal been in form – he made a hundred in the second Test – there are few captaincy options in the squad. It is possible that Rangana Herath, who was dropped for the second Test, will return to lead the side in the third (he has been stand-in captain on five previous occasions). Fast bowler Suranga Lakmal, now the official vice-captain of the team, is another option.

Adil Rashid has shot back at critics, in particular former England and Yorkshire captain Michael Vaughan and the Yorkshire county, after his selection in England’s Test team drew flak. He thinks Vaughan’s comments are “stupid” and “do not matter”, and he is hurt by Yorkshire’s expression of disappointment, which might lead him “to think about the future in terms of which county I play for”.Most of the criticism, though, has been aimed at the England selectors for giving Rashid a Test comeback in “unique circumstances” even though the legspinner had turned his back on red-ball cricket for Yorkshire. Rashid had a good ODI series against India, including bowling India captain Virat Kohli with a sharp legbreak. Rashid is the second spinner alongside Moeen Ali in the squad for the first Test. Both Dominic Bess and Jack Leach, who played Tests for England after Moeen and Rashid had been dropped, were overlooked.In his column in , Vaughan called Rashid “unprofessional” for not making himself available for Yorkshire when “he knew he had a good chance of being picked” for the Tests.Rashid responded belligerently, saying it was not his fault he was offered a place in the squad. “There has been a lot of hoo-ha. I don’t see what the big deal is, with people talking about me being retired,” Rashid told . “I didn’t say anything about retirement, which some pundits have said. It was not an easy decision, but when your country wants you and asks if you are available, you cannot just say no.”Getty Images

About Vaughan he was much more scathing: “His opinions do not matter to anybody. When I mentioned at the start of the year I will not be playing red-ball cricket, he tweeted something then. He was being controversial and saying his stupid things then too. A lot of people have got no interest in what he says. It is about getting people to like what he says.”I don’t think he has an agenda against me. I played under and with him but sometimes ex-players come out and start talking nonsense about current players. If he wants to carry on talking just because he is bored with nothing better to say, then that is his choice. There will be people out there who are not happy. There will be haters, like the pundits who are saying it is a disgrace. That is not my fault.”Rashid said he expected better from his county Yorkshire. Their CEO Mark Arthur has criticised the selection too because Rashid had not made himself available for red-ball cricket for Yorkshire, who even had to loan a spinner for just one match, the Roses clash.”They might be disappointed for various reasons, but it would have been nice if the chief executive or head coach could have said, ‘Well done, congratulations on being selected, good on you.’ As opposed to being angry and upset for not playing red-ball cricket for them, even though I told them I would not be doing so.”I did not do anything wrong in that sense. There is no reason for Yorkshire to react like this. It was not something I expected or wanted. It would have been nice to have got the support from your county or the people close to you, but if they do not want to give their support, that is their problem. I don’t need anybody’s support in that situation. I know what I want to do and achieve. If I give 100% and it goes well, it goes well. If it doesn’t then I will still be happy.”If they treat me like they have done, don’t see any value in me and are disrespectful to me, I have to think about the future in terms of which county I play for.”

ScorecardDurham skipper Tom Latham led from the front to steer his side to an impressive 34-run win over Notts Outlaws in their Vitality Blast meeting at Trent Bridge.This was Durham’s second shock on an away ground in 48 hours, following their 18-run victory against another highly-fancied side, Birmingham Bears, on Sunday.Latham scored an unbeaten 98 as his side made 184 for five after being asked to bat first. The left-hander faced 55 deliveries but found himself at the non-striker’s end as the innings came to a close.His contribution proved decisive though, as the defending champions failed to capitalise on an explosive start to their reply and could only muster 150, before being bowled out with 12 balls remaining, with Paul Collingwood taking three for 25 for the visitors.James Weighell, Durham’s seamer, said his side were wary of a repeat of last season when Riki Wessels and Alex Hasles (the latter was away on England duty) took 106 off Durham in the Powerplay.”It’s been a good evening for us,” he said. “We were demolished in the Powerplay last year here and we had a feeling it was going to go that way again after four or five overs. This is a very tough place to come to and win.”New Zealand’s Latham went past his previous best T20 score of 82 and batted throughout the innings, hitting eight fours and three sixes, one of them a majestic pull from the bowling of international team-mate Ish Sodhi.Graham Clark shared in an opening stand of 50 with his captain, making a punchy 33, from just 20 balls faced. Collingwood helped propel the total up to 99 for one before the hosts applied the brakes with wickets in three successive overs around the mid-point of the innings.Ryan Davies applied some timely aggression to help Latham add 59 from only 33 balls. The 21-year old made 16 before falling to an excellent diving catch from wicketkeeper Tom Moores, running towards square leg, giving Harry Gurney figures of two for 23.Latham started the final over of the innings on 95 but lost the strike as Stuart Poynter muscled a succession of twos.Steven Mullaney hit the first three balls of the Notts’ chase to the ropes, as Will Smith’s initial over went for 19 runs. The opening partnership realised 67 runs but then both contributors departed within the space of six deliveries; Wessels was yorked by Chris Rushworth for 42 and Mullaney met the same fate to James Weighell for 25.Moores, Samit Patel and Billy Root all fell cheaply, leaving Notts on 105 for five after 12 overs, exactly matching the Jets earlier effort.Dan Christian, the leading run scoring in the competition, threatened to derail the Jets’ victory charge with two sixes in his 32 but he received little support at the other end, with Collingwood chipping away with valuable wickets, whilst Imran Tahir also bagged two for 20 against one of his former sides.The biggest cheer of the evening, in front of a partisan crowd of 10,012 came when Jake Ball, playing after being released from England’s ODI squad earlier in the day, hit Nathan Rimmington for a huge six, moments before the same bowler ended the contest with the wicket of Gurney.In the tight North Group both county sides return to action with home matches on Friday evening; Notts hosting Leicestershire Foxes, with Durham welcoming Worcestershire to Chester-le-Street.

Two hours after being told by doctors that his Asia Cup was over because of a fractured left wrist, Tamim Iqbal, much to everyone’s surprise, walked out to bat with one hand after the fall of ninth wicket. He hung on with centurion Mushfiqur Rahim and helped add 32 for the final wicket, lifting his side to 261.Tamim, who came out with his left hand positioned as if in a sling, had four fingers from his left glove popping out to support a special padding on the glove. He played out just one ball upon return, but it helped Bangladesh get the final kick, courtesy an astonishing Mushfiqur onslaught in the last three overs. As such, Tamim’s injury will rule him out of action for at least six weeks.After being beaten on a pull against Suranga Lakmal, he was hit on his left wrist in the second over. Tamim immediately signalled towards the physiotherapist and retired hurt on 2 off 3 balls. He was later taken to the hospital, where scans revealed a crack on the outside of his index finger. However, much to everyone’s surprise, he walked out to bat after the fall of the ninth wicket in the 47th over, with all four fingers, barring the thumb, popping out of his glove to support the padding.CWI

Tamim’s injury put Bangladesh in a dire position, having already lost Liton Das and Shakib Al Hasan for ducks to Lasith Malinga in the first over of the match. “We took him to hospital only because it was a serious injury, and not just mere bruising,” Minajul Abedin, the Bangladesh chief selector, told ESPNcricinfo. “He was in some pain obviously and it wouldn’t have been prudent to continue batting.”Tamim is likely to return to Bangladesh soon, with Nazmul Hossain Shanto, the back-up batsman, a possible replacement for their second game against Afghanistan on September 20. Shanto, too, is recovering from a finger injury, but was named 12th man against Sri Lanka, which is perhaps a sign that his condition is improving. Tamim’s injury is likely to give the team management more headaches. As such there is still an air of confusion over the status of Shakib’s finger after the player himself said he was just “20 to 30% fit” for the Asia Cup.Shakib was supposed to undergo surgery on return from the West Indies tour in the first week of August, but was subsequently named in the 16-man Asia Cup squad. The BCB president Nazmul Hassan is understood to have asked him skip the Zimbabwe series in October and November to recuperate.

South Africa will be without two of their most experienced players in their upcoming limited-overs series against Zimbabwe. Captain Faf du Plessis has been withdrawn from the ODI series to fully recover from a shoulder injury, while Hashim Amla has been ruled out by a torn finger tendon, picked up during the Caribbean Premier League.Dean Elgar, the Test opener, has been been called up to replace Amla in the one-day squad, for the three-match series starting in Kimberley on Sunday, while JP Duminy will lead the side in du Plessis’ absence.”Hashim sustained a tear to the tendon in his left fifth digit while fielding during the recently concluded Caribbean Premier League,” team manager Dr Mohammed Moosajee explained. “The injury will need up to three weeks to heal, making him unavailable for the series against Zimbabwe.”Du Plessis is recovering from his second shoulder injury in less than a year. He had surgery on his right shoulder in late 2017, and missed the end of South Africa’s tour of Sri Lanka in August this year, with a rotator-cuff tear in the same shoulder. The CSA medical team, as a result, decided to not rush his return, ahead of a busy summer and the 2019 World Cup.”The CSA medical committee has also withdrawn Faf from the ODI series,” Moosajee said. “He has not made a satisfactory recovery from his shoulder injury and has been given more time to make a complete recovery. We are hopeful he will be fit enough to return to lead the T20 side for the three-match series against Zimbabwe.”The absence of the two seniors will allow South Africa to test their bench strength against somewhat modest opposition, and also give an opportunity to Elgar to push his claims for a spot in South Africa’s top order ahead of the World Cup.Elgar, who has played just six ODIs for South Africa since his debut in 2012, with his last match coming against India in Mumbai almost three years ago, is known to be desperate for a one-day call-up ahead of next year’s World Cup, and would have been on the selectors’ radar after topping the batting averages for Surrey in the Royal London One-Day Cup this season, where he struck three fifties and averaged 57.25.”We have said that the Zimbabwe series is an opportunity to further explore our ODI options and the unfortunate injury to Hashim gives us an opportunity to see what Dean is capable of in the limited-overs format,” Linda Zondi, the CSA national selection panel convener, said. “He has always been on our radar having put in consistent performances both in South Africa and the UK, and brings a wealth of valuable experience to the batting group in Hashim and Faf’s absence.”Keshav Maharaj has also been released from the ODI squad and will play for the Dolphins in their first round four-day competition fixture against the Titans, starting at SuperSport Park on Wednesday.

Afghanistan allrounder Mohammad Nabi has signed with the Melbourne Renegades again for the upcoming Big Bash League season.The 33-year old was a revelation for the Renegades in the seventh season. Of all players who bowled 20 overs or more in the tournament, his economy rate of 5.76 was only bettered by his Afghanistan team-mate Rashid Khan (5.65) and Ashton Agar (5.74). Nabi took eight wickets at just 18.62 and his bowling in the Powerplay was particularly impressive.He also made 52 off 30 balls in a Man-of-the-Match performance in the win over the Melbourne Stars. Nabi was a huge part of the Renegades run to the semi-final, and his absence due to international duty was sorely felt as the Renegades lost to the eventual champions Adelaide Strikers.Overseas spinners have again proved a popular choice for BBL teams following the success of both Nabi and Rashid. Another spinner from Afghanistan – Mujeeb Ur Rahman – signed with Brisbane Heat while Nepal legspinner Sandeep Lamichhane joined the Melbourne Stars and will be replaced by Lancashire and England Lions legspinner Matt Parkinson when he heads to the Bangladesh Premier League.The Renegades have also added legspinner Cameron Boyce to their squad after crossing from the Hobart Hurricanes.

The drama surrounding Mithali Raj has taken another twist with head coach Ramesh Powar stating in an official report to the BCCI that the player had threatened to pull out of the Women’s World T20 and announce her retirement if she was not allowed to open. Powar has also said Raj, who is India’s ODI captain, should stop “blackmailing and pressurising” coaches and putting her interests ahead of the team’s.These revelations are part of the coach’s appraisal of India’s performance in the Caribbean, where they lost in the semi-final against England. Raj was omitted from that match, triggering the controversy. On Wednesday, Powar met BCCI CEO Rahul Johri and the board’s head of cricket operations Saba Karim before e-mailing his final report to the pair.It was as explosive as the letter Raj herself had sent to Johri and Karim earlier this week accusing the coach of “humiliating” her and threatening to “destroy” her career.His report, accessed by ESPNcricinfo, begins with these strong words:

• Minimum inputs in team meetings; not a single word of appreciation after finishing at the top of the table.
• Could not understand & adapt to team plan. Ignored her role and batted for own milestones.
• Lack of keeping the momentum going which was putting extra pressure on other batters. Worked really hard as a coach to address her power hitting, batting skills and running between the wickets in almost every session.
• In practice games she was struggling to score quickly, as wickets were low bounce & slow. Intent was missing. Could not lean and execute shots due to limited ability in skills &fitness.

In his defence, Powar, who took charge as interim coach, replacing Tushar Arothe, in July, has blamed Raj for manipulating the coaching staff to suit herself at the team’s expense. “I hope Mithali Raj stops blackmailing, pressurising coaches & also stops putting her interest first than team’s,” he wrote. “I hope she will look at the bigger picture & work towards betterment of the Indian women’s cricket.”Raj is understood to be part of the group of high-profile senior players responsible for Arothe being forced to step down.According to Powar, Raj issued her initial threat to retire and return home on the eve of India’s second group match, against Pakistan. She had not batted in the tournament opener, against New Zealand, during which India posted the highest total in the World T20. She had already been told she would bat in the middle order.Powar explained that Raj, predominantly an opener, had to be pushed down the order because she had struggled to score quickly in the practice games that were played on slow and low pitches. Keeping in mind that scoring against spin would be difficult, especially after the ball loses its hardness, India’s batsmen were told to capitalise on the Powerplay.India captain Harmanpreet Kaur and coach Ramesh Powar at the pre-departure press meet•Annesha Ghosh

According to Powar, Raj had agreed to the plan, which he said was “logical”. “Mithali’s lack of intent to score quickly in practice games prompted us to open with Taniya Bhatia, who always showed intent every time she batted. We used Taniya and D Hemalatha in Powerplay vs New Zealand, which got us 24 runs in 13 balls. It’s not always about individual milestones, it’s always about team strategies and executions.”But, on the eve of the Pakistan match, Powar said, he was “shell-shocked” by the information that Raj was on the verge of quitting not just the World T20 campaign, but her entire career.”Video analyst Mr Pushkar Sawant came to my room with the news that fielding coach Mr Biju George conveyed to him that Mithali is upset about not changing the batting order & not allowing her to open in Pakistan match. She has packed her bags to leave with announcement of retirement in the morning.”I was shell-shocked to understand why? Team had just beaten one of the top teams (New Zealand) and Mithali Raj a legend is still complaining about her batting position(which she agreed upon) & threatening to leave.”Powar said he was “sadden(ed) and baffle(d)” by the senior player’s attitude, which he summed up bluntly as: “for Mithali Raj she comes first and then team India”.To prevent any adverse effects on the team, Powar told the captain Harmanpreet and the vice-captain Smriti Mandhana that Raj would open on morning of Pakistan match. Simultaneously, Raj was also informed the same.”We opened with Mithali Raj due to pressure from travelling selector and Mithali’s threatening behaviour (retirement) to go back home if not given a chance to open the innings.”Chasing 134, India reached the target in the penultimate over with Raj finishing with a half-century but Powar said the late finish hurt the side’s net run-rate, which tends to be a crucial determining factor in global events.In all, Raj played out 17 dots in her 47-ball 56. Powar then gave her “one more opportunity” in the third match against Ireland to “prove her ability” as an opener and “execute the team strategies that is to bat with intent (dominance).” And Raj hit second fifty in a row to bag successive Player-of-the-Match awards. But the coach underlined the 25 dots in the 56-ball 51. “(That) added extra pressure & cost us Smriti, Jemimah’s [Rodrigues] wicket & net run-rate.”Powar pointed out that Raj “questioned” the plan to dominate at all times and that the situation between him and her proved an unnecessary distraction on the eve of the semi-final against England.Powar said Raj raised “tantrums” and created “chaos” and even told team manager Trupti Bhattacharya she “wanted to go back home as she was very upset that coach is not looking after a legend player like her.” There are several references to attitudinal issues and reluctance to participate in fielding and practice drills.Powar said that he and Bhattacharya had a telephone call with Karim, who advised them to sort out the matter “amicably”.

Bangladesh have included Mohammad Mithun and Mohammad Saifuddin to their T20I squad for the three-match T20I series against West Indies starting in Sylhet on December 17. Both Mithun and Saifuddin have been part of the ODI squad against Zimbabwe and West Indies.The home side have dropped Mosaddek Hossain and Abu Jayed from their last T20I squad, which was also against West Indies in August this year. Sabbir Rahman was also in Bangladesh’s squad for that series, but now is currently serving a six-month ban for disciplinary issues.Mosaddek has shown some form for Bangladesh Under-23s in the Emerging Teams Asia Cup after an ordinary first-class season. Pace bowler Jayed played the first Test against Zimbabwe in Sylhet, but has been out of favour thereafter.The first T20I will take place in Sylhet, the same venue that the third ODI is being played in, on December 17 before the teams go back to Dhaka for the second and third matches, on December 20 and 22.IN: Mohammad Mithun, Mohammad SaifuddinOUT: Sabbir Rahman, Mosaddek Hossain, Abu JayedSquad: Shakib Al Hasan (capt), Tamim Iqbal, Soumya Sarkar, Liton Das, Mushfiqur Rahim, Mahmudullah, Rubel Hossain, Mustafizur Rahman, Mehidy Hasan Miraz, Nazmul Islam, Mohammad Mithun, Mohammad Saifuddin, Abu Hider, Ariful Haque

James Anderson has “not seen anyone work as hard on their game” as Stuart Broad over the last couple of years.Anderson and Broad go into the Barbados Test with 998 Test wickets between them over the course of their careers. But while Broad, at 32, is four years younger than Anderson, it is his form that has caused more concern over the last couple of years.While Anderson has gone from strength to strength, compensating for his somewhat diminished pace with his control and range of skills, Broad has, at times, looked as if he were in gradual decline. He has only taken one five-for since January 2016 and, in both the 2017 and the 2017-18 seasons, had a bowling average a fraction above 33.Neither the decline in pace nor movement were dramatic but, somewhere along the way, the remarkable hot streaks of wickets that characterise Broad’s career disappeared. He was left out of the side for the first two Tests in Sri Lanka and is no longer guaranteed to take the new ball alongside Anderson.ALSO READ: Seamers to the fore as WI put up their DukesSuch is his desire to extend his career, however, Broad has recognised the signs and resolved to improve. After consulting Anderson and Richard Hadlee – a Nottinghamshire team-mate of his father, Chris – Broad has shortened his run-up by five yards in a bid to improve his rhythm and bowl with a higher action. Writing in the recently, he explained that “standing taller in delivery… should provide me with extra bounce”.Alongside some alterations he had made to his wrist position, Broad hopes the changes will both make him more potent and extend his career by several years.The early signs are promising. Despite not taking any wickets in the final Test of the Sri Lanka series in Colombo, Broad bowled with impressive pace and saw two chances put down off him in the slips. Both in Colombo and in the warm-up games in Barbados, he appeared to gain a little of the away swing that has been largely absent in recent times. He warns that the changes may not completely bed in for a few months – the Ashes remain his main target – but it will be intriguing to see how he fares in the Caribbean, where he has a Test bowling average of 31.22.Certainly Anderson is impressed. “Probably since Australia, I’ve not seen anyone work as hard as he has on their game,” Anderson said. “It’s a credit to him. He’s put so many hard yards in, not just on his run-up but on his action and trying to swing the ball away again.”I do think the run-up has looked really good here. He still has the same snap, the same momentum going through the crease. For me, it’s all about the last six yards, building that momentum up to the crease. He can definitely have the same oomph.”And it might just get another couple of years out of him. I think part of him is thinking ‘why have I not done this sooner?'”