Cricket PNG today announced that 10 players from the PNG U19 team have been suspended from international cricket for 12 months.
This follows a serious breach of ICC’s Player Code of Conduct Article 2.21 Bringing the Game into Disrepute at the recent ICC U19 Cricket World Cup East Asia Pacific Qualifiers hosted in Japan.
The players will also be suspended from playing domestic cricket for the remainder of 2019.
As part of the sanction imposed by the Cricket PNG Board, the suspended players will also undertake 60 hours of community service and take part in a counselling program with either a qualified counsellor or village elder.
Cricket PNG Chief Executive, Greg Campbell, said: “On behalf of Cricket PNG I would like to offer our full and sincere apologies to the ICC, Japan Cricket Association and all of the other teams playing in the event.
“The behaviour of our players is not what we would expect from international cricketers of any age. The players have expressed sincere regret at their actions and in addition to their suspension from cricket, they will undertake a comprehensive rehabilitation program over the next 12 months, supported by Cricket PNG.
“Our thanks go to our friends at the Japan Cricket Association for being such wonderful hosts and I would like to assure all Japanese cricket fans that this behaviour is not reflective of our sport.
“Congratulations to Japan on qualifying for the ICC U19 Cricket World Cup for the first time and we wish the whole team the very best for the event.”
ICC General Counsel and COO Iain Higgins added: “This has been a highly unusual incident by a group of young players and I would like to thank Cricket PNG for acting swiftly and decisively. It sends out a clear message that the sport will not tolerate this sort of behaviour at ICC events.
“We are obviously extremely disappointed with the behavior of the players, but we are satisfied that Cricket PNG has delivered a suitable and proportionate sanction and program for rehabilitation.
Therefore, the ICC will not take any further action against any of the players.
“I would like to place on record my sincere thanks to the Japan Cricket Association for their support in handling this issue and for hosting such a superb event. I also extend congratulations on behalf of the ICC to the Japan cricket team on qualifying for the ICC U19 Cricket World Cup for the first time, on what is a historic and monumental achievement for them. We look forward to welcoming the whole team to South Africa for the ICC U19 Cricket World Cup next year.”
Campbell also said: “Although Cricket PNG are disappointed with recent events, we will continue to work with these young men and look forward to their return to cricket following their suspension. We sincerely hope to see them in national colours again, sharing the lessons they have learnt with teammates on the standards and expectations when representing their country.”