England bowler Tom Curran expressed “deep regrets” after losing an appeal over a four-match Big Bash League ban for intimidating an umpire, saying he has always respected match officials on Sunday.
Cricket Australia had charged Curran on Thursday with a level-three offence under clause 2.17 in the code of conduct following an incident that occurred during the Sydney Sixers’ team warm-up before its match against the Hobart Hurricanes on Dec. 11.
Video footage of the incident showed Curran apparently refusing to comply with the umpire’s direction to stay off the wicket while warming up.
Curran — who has been capped for England in all three formats and is in his fourth season with the Sydney Sixers — then went to the other end to complete another practice run-up and almost collided with the umpire, who had stood on the bowling crease to prevent Curran from again encroaching onto the pitch.
A verbal altercation between Curran and the umpire immediately followed.
The vision everyone’s been waiting for.This is the series of events that’s led to Tom Curran’s four-game suspension… pic.twitter.com/CRcBujbIl0
— 7Cricket (@7Cricket) December 21, 2023
He said he has “deep regrets” about the way he reacted.
“Across my decade-long professional career I have always sought to have a friendly and respectful relationship with match officials, which I believe is reflected in the lack of prior code of conduct breaches across the world,” Curran added.
“I am genuinely sorry that I chose to continue to practise my run up in the direction of umpire Qureshi, and if he ever thought I sought to make physical contact with him.
“I would like to apologise to everyone that this has affected.”
In upholding the ban, Cricket Australia general manager Alistair Dobson said match officials must be respected.
“Umpires are part of the lifeblood of cricket and it is essential they are respected and appreciated by players at all levels of the game,” he said.
“We acknowledge the remorse Tom’s shown following the appeal and look forward to seeing him back in Sixers colours.”
Sixers head Rachael Haynes said the club accepted the punishment.
“We sought to appeal the original decision based on previous code of conduct cases,” she said.
“Whilst not disagreeing that Tom had breached the code through his conduct, we felt that the charge was inconsistent with other offences. Following the ruling, we respect that not to be the case.”
(With inputs from Agencies)
Comments
0 comment