John Campbell has played 20 test matches for West Indies.Image Credit source: Gareth Copley/Getty Images
Cricket West Indies (CWI) has imposed a severe ban on one of its own players due to indiscipline. The Windies Board announced in a press release that veteran Test batsman John Campbell has been banned for 4 matches. As strict as this ban imposed by the West Indies Board is, its reason is equally shocking. This action of Cricket West Indies has happened after the incident of the final of a tournament held about 12 days ago, in which Campbell had refused to play and did not come to the field for the toss.
The Windies Board announced this punishment in a press release on Friday 6 December. The board said that Jamaica Scorpions captain John Campbell has been banned for 4 matches for violating the code of conduct by his behavior during the Super 50 final match. This ban will be applicable during the event to be held in the next season of this tournament i.e. 2025. According to this, despite the orders of the umpires, Campbell did not come out for the toss for the final match, after which the match referee found him guilty of CWI's code of conduct.
Why did Campbell not reach for the toss?
Now the question is what was the matter? Actually, the final of Windies Board's domestic ODI tournament Super 50 was to be played on 24 November. In the final, Jamaica, captained by Campbell, faced Pride from Barbados. This match was to be held in Taroba, Trinidad but due to rain the match could not start on time. After this, the match referee and umpires told the captains of both the teams that the time for the match was 20-20 overs.
The umpire and match referee assured the captains of both the teams that the field conditions were good to start the match, but despite this, the captains of both the teams did not arrive on time for the toss and the teams did not take the field till the scheduled time of the match. In such a situation the umpire declared the match cancelled. Due to this, no team was declared winner or runner-up. In such a situation, it was decided not to give prize money and match fees to anyone.
Action will be taken against the other captain also
31-year-old Campbell, who has played a total of 28 international matches including 20 Tests for the West Indies, admitted his mistake in a letter to the referee and apologized for his behaviour. At the same time, Barbados captain Ramon Reifer, who was convicted in this case, has not yet responded to the match referee's allegations, due to which the Windies Board has not yet announced his punishment. The board has made it clear in its press release that he too has been charged with the same charges as Campbell and hence his punishment will also be the same. However, the board has also said that if the reefer does not respond, his case will be sent to the disciplinary committee and then action will be taken against him.
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