New Delhi: The International Cricket Council (ICC) has punished West Indies head coach Daren Sammy for his remarks criticising umpire Adrian Holdstock during the first Test against Australia in Barbados. Sammy had expressed his concerns over three controversial calls during Day 2 of the Test match, which went against the West Indies.
He has been fined 15% of his match fee and handed one demerit point for the level-one offence — his first in 24 months. The former Windies skipper has admitted the offence and accepted the sanction. He was found to have violated Article 2.7 of the ICC Code of Conduct.
The rule states that without limitation, Players and Player Support Personnel will breach Article 2.7 if they publicly criticise the Match Officials or denigrate a Player or team against which they have played in relation to incidents which occurred in an International Match.
Three umpire decisions became the talking point of the Test match. Australia batter Travis Head was given not out by TV umpire Adrian Holdstock on 53, due to a lack of evidence on a clear catch by Shai Hope behind the stumps on Day 1. Captain Roston Chase was given lbw out against Pat Cummins, despite the replays showing an inside edge onto the pads.
Shai Hope was also given out against Beau Webster as a low take from wicketkeeper Alex Carey was ruled in Australia’s favour. The West Indian head coach met with match referee Javagal Srinath after Day 2 to express his concerns over the controversial calls by the TV umpire.
What did Darren Sammy say about TV umpire?
Australia defeated West Indies by 159 in the first Test, and after the match, Sammy said that as a team, they don’t want to get themselves in a situation where they’re wondering about certain umpires.
The Windies coach further added that when you see decision after decision, then it raises the question, and he knows that Adrian is here for the series, but they don’t want to go in a Test match having that doubt.
“So I want to have that conversation as to the process… so we could be all clear. Because, at the end of the day, you don’t want to be going into a Test match not trusting the umpires. And that’s not what our team is about. So we’re just looking for some clarity as to the decisions,” he added.