SYDNEY: In a setback for England bowler Tom Curran, his appeal over a four-match ban in the Big Bash League (BBL) for intimidating an umpire has been unsuccessful.
Cricket Australia emphasized the paramount importance of respecting officials in the game.
The incident leading to Curran’s ban occurred during a pre-match encounter with the Hobart Hurricanes, where the umpire had to move to avoid a collision with him during a practice run.
The charge against Curran was for “intimidation or attempted intimidation of an umpire, match referee, or medical personnel whether by language or conduct (including gestures) during a match.”
While Curran appealed the charge, stating that he did not knowingly or intentionally intimidate a match official, Cricket Australia upheld the ban. CA General Manager Alistair Dobson stressed the significance of respecting and appreciating umpires as integral to the essence of cricket.
The Sydney Sixers, for whom Curran plays, accepted the punishment, acknowledging that while there was a breach of the code through his conduct, they sought to appeal based on the consistency of charges in previous code of conduct cases. Following the ruling, the club has expressed respect for the decision.
