Ban puts Ponting out of England one-day match
AFP
25 January 1999
MELBOURNE, Australia, Jan 25 (AFP) - Australian batsman Ricky Ponting
will miss Tuesday's tri-series cricket one-day match against England
as part of a three-game suspension imposed as punishment for his part
in a nightclub brawl.
Ponting was Monday given a suspended 5,000 dollar (3,200 US) fine and
banned for three matches.
The 24-year-old Tasmanian has already missed two of Australia's
tri-series one-day internationals against England and Sri Lanka
because he was stood down after being knocked out in a Sydney
nightclub last Monday.
Ponting has admitted that he has a drinking problem and is seeking
counselling.
Australian Cricket Board chief executive Mal Speed said the board
suspended the fine on condition that Ponting underwent alcohol
rehabilitation, but said the batsman had already forfeited 3,600
dollars (2,300 US) in lost match payments.
Ponting emerged grim-faced from an ACB code of conduct hearing saying
it would be a turning point in his career.
The fine will be enforced if, during that time, Ponting again breaches
the code of conduct. Ponting will forfeit 11,250 dollars (7,000 US) in
match payments.
Ponting, whose eye remained blackened from the nightclub fracas a week
ago, said he was just relieved that it was all over.
``I just want to get back and play cricket for Australia,'' Ponting
said.
``I am seeking counselling and I've already gone ahead and arranged
that. It's just going to be how I get over the problem,'' he said.
Ponting pleaded guilty to unruly behaviour in a public place while
representing Australia.
``I've certainly got to make sure that it doesn't happen again,'' he
said.
Ponting said he was prepared to reduce his drinking to a moderate
rate.
``I think it will be a huge turning point in both my life as a
cricketer and as Ricky Ponting as well, it's certainly made me more
aware of what I can and can't do,'' he said.
``I'll come back a better person from it and hopefully a better
cricketer.''
He was hopeful that his latest indiscretion would not jeopardise his
chances of one-day becoming Australian skipper.
Last year Ponting was fined 2,000 dollars (1,260 US) after allegedly
groping a woman in a nightclub during the Australian tour of India.
And last April he was fined 600 dollars (380 US) after an on-field
confrontation with Indian spinner Harbhajan Singh.
Copyright 1998-2001 AFP. All rights reserved. All information displayed on
this page (dispatches, photographs, logos), with the exception of CricInfo
logos and trademarks, are protected by intellectual property rights owned
by Agence France Presse. As a consequence you may not copy, reproduce,
modify, transmit, publish, display or in any way commercially exploit any
of the contents of this section without prior written consent of
Agence-France-Presse.
|
