AFG vs WI: Nicholas Pooran handed 4-match ban for ball-tampering

The International Cricket Council (ICC) has handed a four-match ban to West Indies’ Nicholas Pooran after the batsman was found guilty of ball-tampering in the 3rd ODI against Afghanistan. The 24-year-old was caught on tape trying to alter the condition of the ball by scratching it with his thumbnail. Along with the ban, five demerit points have also been added to Pooran’s record. He will now miss the next four T20I games for the West Indies.

Pooran has been charged with a Level 3 breach for violating Article 2.1.4 of the ICC Code of Conduct, which amounts to four suspension points and five demerit points for the player. The suspension points equal to a ban of two Tests or four ODIs/T20Is, whichever is earlier. In this case, Pooran will be not taking any further part in the upcoming T20I series against Afghanistan in India. Having already whitewashed Afghanistan in ODIs, West Indies are now set to play three T20Is against the same opponent starting November 14. Pooran will also miss the first of the three T20Is against India on December 6 in Mumbai.

The tampering charges on Pooran were levelled by the on-field umpires Bismillah Shinwari and Ahmed Durrani along with the third and fourth umpires. The Caribbean batsman has pleaded guilty and accepted the sanction proposed by match referee Chris Broad.

“I want to issue a sincere apology to my teammates, supporters and the Afghanistan team for what transpired on the field of play on Monday in Lucknow. I recognise that I made an extreme error in judgement and I fully accept the ICC penalty. I want to assure everyone that this is an isolated incident and it will not be repeated. I promise to learn from this and come back stronger and wiser,” Pooran said in his statement.