ICC Punishes South Africa Coach Prince and Batter Verreynne Over Umpire Dissent in Cape Town Test
The International Cricket Council (ICC) has punished South Africa batting coach Ashwell Prince and batter Kyle Verreynne for breaching the code of conduct in the Cape Town Test. Alongside a reprimand, each of them has received one demerit point.
The incident began on the third day of the third Test of the series against Australia in Cape Town, during South Africa's second innings, and centred on opener Marcos Ackermann. Ackermann was walking back towards the dressing room after being caught by Cameron Green off Mitchell Starc.
Ackermann wanted to review the decision, but the umpires did not accept it because the 15 seconds allowed had already elapsed. The decision was taken because the stipulated review time had run out.
As Ackermann began to leave the field, Prince repeatedly shouted at the umpires, the ICC said. The batting coach claimed that time still remained to take the review.
Verreynne, meanwhile, had advised Ackermann to stay on the field. That is why Ackermann was delayed in leaving the field. Verreynne, however, was not in the playing XI for that match.
In this incident, Prince and Verreynne breached Article 2.8 of the ICC code of conduct. Showing dissent at an umpire's decision in an international match is treated as an offence under this article.
This was the first offence for both of them in the last 24 months. So, alongside the reprimand, one demerit point each has been added to their disciplinary records.
