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Sri Lanka skipper charged by ICC

Dinesh Chandimal charged with breaching Code of Conduct in wake of ball-tampering controversy in St Lucia

Sri Lanka captain Dinesh Chandimal has been charged with breaching the ICC Code of Conduct in the fallout of the ball-tampering controversy in the second Test against the West Indies.

The international governing body tweeted the news, detailing that the captain was in breach of Level 2.2.9 of the ICC Code of Conduct for 'changing the condition of the ball' - the same charge levelled at Australia batter Cameron Bancroft during the infamous Cape Town Test in March.

Umpires Aleem Dar and Ian Gould advised the visitors they would be changing the ball ahead of the third day’s play and awarding the West Indies five penalty runs after raising concerns towards the end of day two regarding the condition of the ball.

The decision resulted in lengthy deliberations, with the Sri Lankan captain refusing to lead his team onto the field on day three as the Windies prepared to resume their innings at 2-118 in pursuit of Sri Lanka’s first innings total of 253.

Eventually the Sri Lankan took to the field “under protest” according to a statement released later by Sri Lanka Cricket, which denied the players had engaged in any wrongdoing.

The ICC confirmed the change in ball and addition of penalty runs at the start of day three.

"The ICC can confirm the match officials in the second Test between West Indies and Sri Lanka changed the ball and awarded 5 penalty runs to West Indies," the ruling body tweeted.

"If there are any, Code of Conduct charges will follow as per usual at close of play."

Speaking prior to the charge being laid, Sri Lanka legend Kumar Sangakkara said Sri Lanka may "feel hard done by" during Sky Sports' coverage of the second ODI between England and Australia in Cardiff.

"Maybe (umpire Ian Gould) was just being over-cautious", Sangakkara said. "They saw something maybe that the ball needed to be changed, maybe it was the shape, and the Sri Lankans would have taken offence at that and made their case.

"The team manager, coach, captain will all have to get involved. I know (Chandika) and he will not take this lying down, he will go out there and be very strong and vociferous in presenting his case.

"But if there has been five penalty runs added, there has to be reasons and causes shown by Sri Lanka in defence as to why there was any damage on the ball, and how it could have happened.

"The umpires themselves will have to be pretty certain using the cameras as well to see if they were justified in changing the ball and adding five penalty runs.

"I absolutely think umpires should be very strict on ball tampering. You saw what happened with Australia, they should have had harder sanctions years ago, it might not have led to sandpaper.

"But at the same time everyone needs to have perspective.

"Give a fair hearing, see what everyone has to see and then make a very objective position to what's happened and if it merits the sanctions they've already imposed or if any further action needs to be taken. "

When play eventually resumed on Saturday, Sri Lanka fought well to limit the West Indies first-innings lead to 47 runs as the hosts, who started the day at 118 for two, lost their last six wickets for 59 runs to be dismissed in the final session for 300.