Banned Sharma vows to skip ICC Trophy
A crisis is brewing for Hong Kong cricket. Star all-rounder Rahul Sharma has said he will skip this summer's ICC Trophy in Canada if a ban slapped on him on Thursday by the Hong Kong Cricket Association is not lifted.
Sharma was suspended for five matches by the match and disciplinary committee for showing dissent after being dismissed in a Sunday Cup game earlier this month. The suspension went into effect immediately, which resulted in the KCC cricketer missing the Cup final against Vagabonds yesterday. He now has to sit out four more matches and with the season all but ended, it could mean missing out the first three games of the 2003 World Cup qualifying tournament in Toronto in June.
'If I'm going to sit out the first few matches, then I won't go,' said Sharma after watching his team lose by two wickets yesterday at the Hong Kong Cricket Club. Sharma added: 'And what's the point of playing in the ICC Trophy if I'm not in the warmup games for Hong Kong.'
Voted Player of the Tournament at last November's ACC Trophy in Sharjah, Sharma has found himself in this sticky situation after throwing a tantrum when he was dismissed caught down the legside against HKCC Scorpions. He walked out in a rage, throwing his bat to the ground. 'I wrongly threw my bat on the ground and had a big shout to myself in the pavilion. I admit what I did was wrong and I apologised to the umpires afterwards.
'I also sent a letter to the committee asking for a suspended fine as I wanted to play in the Sunday Cup final. I was shocked to hear that I had been banned from playing for five matches. They have taken a very harsh option,' Sharma said.
He argued that even in international cricket, players fined for dissent received a suspended penalty. Sharma's suspension places Hong Kong cricket in a no-win situation. The ruling applies to league, cup and international games. With only one game remaining in the league - against champions Pakistan Association - and taking into account yesterday' Cup final, it means Sharma is left facing a further three-match ban.
As part of the build-up to the ICC Trophy, Hong Kong are down to play two games next month against the MCC and Melbourne Cricket Club who will be arriving for the 150th anniversary of the Hong Kong Cricket Club.
'The rules clearly state that I be suspended for league, cup and international matches. Are games against visiting club sides an international? What constitutes an international?,' asked the top all-rounder.
