Melbourne, Jan 27 (Inditop) Controversial Australian all-rounder Andrew Symonds has been charged by Cricket Australia (CA) and will face a disciplinary hearing here Thursday over a radio interview in which he called New Zealand wicketkeeper Brendon McCullum a “lump of s..t”.
CA has reported the all-rounder for an alleged breach of the Code of Behaviour following the radio interview with Roy & HG on Triple M Friday night. In a media release issued by CA Tuesday, the report alleges that Symonds breached the provisions relating to detrimental public comment.
“Given the importance of the tribunal hearing, it would be inappropriate to comment on the issue now a report has been made. Once the outcome of this hearing is finalised, CA will be in a better position to assess issues relating to Andrew Symonds,” CA’s acting chief executive Michael Brown said in a statement.
Symonds’ outburst was prompted by New South Wales’ (NSW) decision to recruit McCullum for its Twenty20 final and he felt it was an “injustice” that a local player had to make way for the New Zealander.
“We love to hate them, but he (McCullum) is a lump of s..t, sorry, lump of cow dirt that people are thinking of,” Symonds said on the radio interview.
Symonds later issued a statement and expressed his remorse.
“My intentions for this interview were light-hearted and my comments no way reflect the respect that I have for McCullum both on and off the field. I understand how this has been received differently to the way in which I intended to express myself and for that I am extremely sorry.”
The hearing will be presided over by CA Code of Conduct senior commissioner Gordon Lewis here Thursday.
rounak