MELBOURNE: Australian batsman David Warner was today axed from the Champions Trophy match against New Zealand and might face stricter action after being involved in an “unprovoked” physical altercation with an England player, believed to be Joe Root.
“Cricket Australia (CA) advises that Australian batsman David Warner has been stood down from Australia’s ICC Champions Trophy match against New Zealand tonight after being reported for breaching the CA Code of Behavior,” CA said in a statement.
Warner has been reported for breaching Rule 6 relating to “unbecoming behavior” after he was allegedly involved in a physical altercation with an England player in the early hours of Sunday morning following the Champions Trophy match between the teams in Birmingham.
The England and Wales Cricket Board also came out with a statement on the incident but it did not name Root as the other player. The ECB, however, insisted that Warner’s attack was unprovoked.
“Following a statement issued this morning by Cricket Australia, the England and Wales Cricket Board confirms that David Warner initiated an unprovoked physical attack on a member of the England team in a Birmingham bar following England’s 48 run victory over Australia,” the ECB said.
“Warner has admitted behaving inappropriately and has since apologized to the player involved who has accepted the apology. Following a full investigation the England team management has concluded that the England player was in no way responsible for nor retaliated to the attack,” it added.
The incident reportedly took place in a Birmingham bar and involved alcohol after Australia lost by 48 runs to England in their tournament-opener.
“Team management have stood down Warner pending the outcome of the hearing, meaning he will miss Australia’s match against New Zealand in Birmingham tonight,” CA said.
“Rule 6 states: Without limiting any other rule, players and officials must not at any time engage in behavior unbecoming to a representative player or official that could (a) bring them or the game into disrepute or (b) be harmful to the interests of cricket.”
CA will convene the Code of Behavior hearing as soon as possible. Details will be provided once the time and date is confirmed.
“CA will not be making any further comment until after the hearing,” it said.
Warner, who played for Delhi Daredevils in the IPL, most recently hit the headlines after being fined 5,750 Australian dollars last month for breaching CA’s code of behavior following his Twitter rant against a couple of journalists.
He subsequently apologized for it but insisted that he did that to defend himself.
Warner has been struggling for runs since arriving in England, having made ducks in both the Champions Trophy warm-up games and 9 in the loss to England. -PTI
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