Gayle, Malinga and Du Plessis drop out of Lanka T20 League
COLOMBO: Big-hiting West Indies star Chris Gayle, South Africa’s Faf du Plessis and Sri Lanka’s Twenty20 skipper Lasith Malinga are among the big names that have withdrawn from the Lanka Premier League (LPL) tournament, officials and reports said Thursday.
Gayle, slanted to be the top attraction in the 23-match T20 league starting on Nov.26, told the Kandy Tuskers he was pulling out due to an injury, a source close to the team told AFP.
England fast bowler Liam Plunket too will not be featuring for the Kandy Tuskers at the LPL.
Gayle and Plunket were set to join former India all-rounder Irfan Pathan, Munaf Patel, local icon Kusal Perera, Sri Lankan T20 specialists Kusal Mendis and Nuwan Pradeep among others at Kandy Tuskers.
“Close associates” of Malinga meanwhile told local media that the veteran paceman was not match-fit.
“For the last eight months he has not had any practice and therefore he is unable to take part in the LPL without proper training,” the Thepapare.com website reported, quoting an associate of the 37-year-old.
Strict quarantine restrictions meant all players for the five teams were to join a “bio-secure bubble” at a hotel in the island’s south by Thursday.
Sri Lanka Cricket officials told AFP du Plessis said he had national team duties and could not play in the league.
The officials confirmed late Thursday that none of the three players had arrived at the hotel.
Health authorities have insisted on a one-week quarantine at the hotel amid the coronavirus pandemic.
Matches are also to be played at Hambantota stadium with no spectators allowed.
Other players who have withdrawn include England player Ravi Bopara and Kabir Ali, a former English cricketer who was due to coach one of the teams.
ICC SAYS ZOYSA GUILTY: Former Sri Lanka fast bowler Nuwan Zoysa has been found guilty of three offences under the Anti-corruption Code of the International Cricket Council (ICC) following a hearing by an independent anti-corruption tribunal, the world governing body announced on Thursday. The sanctions will be pronounced later, the ICC said.
The 42-year-old let-arm pacer was charged under the ICC Code in November 2018 and has been found guilty on all charges ater he exercised his right to a hearing before a tribunal.
Zoysa, who played 30 Tests and 95 ODIS for Sri Lanka, has been found guilty of being party to an agreement to influence improperly the result, progress, conduct or other aspect(s) of a match; directly or indirectly soliciting, inducing, enticing, instructing, persuading, encouraging or intentionally facilitating any Participant to breach the Code and failing to disclose to the ACU full details of any approaches or invitations received to engage in corrupt conduct under the Code.
Zoysa has also been charged by the ICC on behalf of the Emirates Cricket Board ( ECB) for breaching four counts of the ECB Anti-corruption Code for participants for a T10 League held in Abu Dhabi in 2017 and these proceedings are going on.
Zoysa remains suspended and the sanctions will be announced later, stated the ICC.