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Sydney Sixers will file an appeal against England
all-rounder Tom Curran’s four-match BBL punishment for intimidating an umpire
during a pre-match confrontation.
In relation to an incident that occurred prior to the
Sixers’ game against the Hobart Hurricanes on December 11 in Launceston, Curran
was charged with a Level 3 offence under Cricket Australia’s Code of Conduct.
CA claims that during the warm-up, Curran ran on a
portion of the pitch and finished a practice run-up before receiving verbal
instructions from the umpire not to repeat the action.
According to CA, Curran moved to the opposite side of
the field to finish a practice run-up, which prompted the umpire to position
himself next to the stumps in an effort to obstruct him.
“[The umpire] gestured to Curran to move away
from the pitch,” CA’s statement said. “Curran was seen in the footage
gesturing to the umpire to move away from the pitch.
“Curran then attempted to perform a practice
run-up and run at pace straight towards the umpire who stood in the bowling
crease facing Curran. The umpire stepped to his right to avoid the risk of
collision.”
Curran refuted the accusation, but as a result, he
received four penalty points, which is equivalent to a four-game suspension.
The Sixers’ next games against Adelaide Strikers, Melbourne Stars, Sydney
Thunder, and Brisbane Heat are all expected to be missed by him.
In the shortened BBL regular season, when teams play
ten matches per, the four-match ban is noteworthy. Rachael Haynes, the
president of the Sydney Sixers, stated that the team would “vigorously
appeal the sanction, while providing support” for Curran. Curran had been
the highlight of the Sixers’ six-wicket triumph against the Hurricanes,
finishing with 3 for 19 off four overs.
“Tom and the club maintain that Tom did not
knowingly or intentionally intimidate a match official, and on legal advice, we
will exercise our right to appeal the decision,” she said. “We will
support Tom during this period and look forward to him returning to the
field.”