Sussex incurred their third and fourth penalties during their recent victory over Leicestershire at Hove in the County Championship. According to the rules of the County Championship, amassing four penalties during a season automatically results in a 12-point deduction under regulation 4.29 of the Professional Conduct Regulations.
Regulation 3.0 specifies that a captain who led the team in all the matches where the penalties were incurred shall also face a one-match suspension when the four-penalty threshold is reached.
This development comes after Pujara received his first penalty for “wilfully mistreating any part of the cricket ground, equipment, or implements used in the match” during Sussex’s initial match of the season against Durham.
Tom Haines was reprimanded during a fixture against Yorkshire in April. In the match against Leicestershire, Haines was the culprit again as he was reported by the umpires for a Level One offence. Jack Carson also received an individual fixed penalty for a Level Two offences (making inappropriate and deliberate physical contact with another player). Both players have been dropped from Sussex’s squad for their next match against Derbyshire, as has Ari Karvelas, with an investigation in place regarding him.
Pujara has scored three centuries for Sussex this season and averages 54.08. Tom Alsop will captain the side against Derbyshire, starting on Tuesday, before Pujara is once again available for selection in the final round of matches.
“It is a great shame that these incidents have tarnished what was a fantastic game against Leicestershire, and all the hard work that has gone into the season. I am disappointed for our fantastic members and supporters and can assure them we will be working hard to make sure we are not in this position again,” Sussex head coach Paul Farbrace was quoted as saying by the media.
“Ultimately it has cost us the availability of Cheteshwar and we have been deducted 12 points. We have also decided it is not appropriate for Ari Karvelas to be made available for selection until the investigation that is in place has been concluded. This provides other players in our squad with a great opportunity to show they can perform at this level, and more importantly, contribute towards the team challenge to win matches in the County Championship,” he said.
(With IANS inputs)