Chandimal pleads not guilty to ball-tampering charge

Sri Lanka skipper Dinesh Chandimal has pleaded not guilty to the ball-tampering charge levelled by the International Cricket Council (ICC) for altering the condition of the ball in the second Test against West Indies.

He will face a hearing after the ongoing second Test against the West Indies wraps up, the ICC, said in a statement issued on Sunday.

"Dinesh Chandimal has pleaded not guilty to breaching Article 2.2.9 of the ICC Code of Conduct and, as such, Javagal Srinath of the Panel of ICC Match Referees will hold a hearing following the conclusion of the St Lucia Test against the Windies," read an ICC statement.

On-field umpires Aleem Dar and Ian Gould, and third umpire Richard Kettleborough had charged Chandimal after play on June 16 for changing the condition of the ball during the St Lucia Test against West Indies.

The officials laid the charge after television footage from the final session's play on June 15 appeared to show the Sri Lanka captain taking sweets out from his left pocket and putting these in his mouth, before applying the artificial substance to the ball which the umpires viewed as an attempt to change its condition.

Video evidence will be used in the hearing, which will also be attended by the match officials as well as members of the Sri Lanka team management.

All level 2 breaches carry an imposition of a fine between 50 per cent to 100 per cent of the applicable match fee and/or up to two suspension points, and three or four demerit points.

The ICC Code of Conduct for Player and Player Support Personnel can be found here.

On Saturday, Sri Lanka refused to take the field on the third day of the second Test in the West Indies.

Play started two hours later of the scheduled time at the Darren Sammy Stadium in St Lucia, reported ESPNcricinfo.

The team protested against the charge by refusing to take the field.

Umpires Aleem Dar and Ian Gould had tabled issues about the condition of the ball towards the end of day two and the Sri Lankans were advised before the start of Saturday's play that they could not continue with the existing ball, according to several media reports. The West Indies have been awarded five penalty runs.

The Sri Lanka Cricket (SLC) clarified its stance in a statement, then saying, "SLC advised the team to take the field to ensure the continuity of the match and wish to commend the decision taken by the team to continue with the game 'under protest' to ensure the upholding of the spirit of the game.