Sri Lanka burned once more by slow over-rate

Sri Lanka are in hot water once again over their slow over-rate after Match Referee Chris Broad meted out fines for the entire team following their latest incursion, it has been revealed. 

A need for a formal hearing however was averted after Sri Lanka Captain Angelo Mathews pleaded guilty to the offence and accepted the proposed sanction.

The fine was imposed following Sri Lanka’s win against Zimbabwe in Thursday’s third ODI after Angelo Mathews was ruled to be one over short of his team’s target when time allowances were taken into consideration.

“In accordance with Article 2.5.1 of the ICC Code of Conduct for Players and Player Support Personnel, which relates to minor over-rate offences, players are fined 10 per cent of their match fees for every over their side fails to bowl in the allotted time, with the captain fined double that amount,” stated an ICC release.

 As such, Mathews has been fined 20% of his match fee, while his players have received 10% fines. If Sri Lanka commits another minor over-rate breach in an ODI within 12 months of this offence with Mathews as captain, it will be deemed a second offence by Mathews and he will face a suspension.

 In recent times Sri Lanka have been consistently poor in a getting through their overs in a timely manner, most notably when stand-in captain Upul Tharanga received a two-match ban after taking over four hours in their opening Champions Trophy match against South Africa last month.

In Thursday’s match, Lasith Malinga failed to complete his allotted 10 overs, presumably because Mathews opted for his spin bowling options so as to speed up the over-rate, ultimately to no avail.

India’s next away Test in Galle on July 26

ESPNcricinfo: India’s full tour of Sri Lanka, which features three Tests, five ODIs and a T20I, will begin in Galle Test on July 26, according to an SLC press release.

No practice matches have been announced so far, but the internationals themselves go until September 6, when the T20I is scheduled to be played at Khettarama.

After the first Test in Galle, the action moves to the SSC in Colombo, before the final Test is set for Pallekele – a venue that has never hosted an India Test. One ODI is scheduled for Dambulla, and two each for Pallekele and Khettarama. No matches are due to be played in Hambantota, which is presently hosting the last three Zimbabwe ODIs.

Sri Lanka last hosted India in 2015, though that was only for a Test series, which India won 2-1. Sri Lanka have since slipped in the rankings, sliding to seventh in Tests, eighth in ODIs, and eighth in T20Is, where India are first, third and fourth respectively.