Melbourne Renegades all-rounder Will Sutherland has been sanctioned for breaching Cricket Australia's bio-security protocols created for the ongoing 10th edition of the Big Bash League (BBL) 2020-2021.
The 21-year-old rising star breached CA’s code of conduct after playing golf on January 21 in Melbourne and even he dined with people outside the BBL bio-bubble, while he was still playing in the tournament.
After Chris Lynn and Dan Lawrence were each fined $10,000 - $4,000 for the breaches in December, CA had promised zero tolerance for any instances where the players were seen to be breaching the bio-bubble during the BBL 10 amidst the COVID-19 pandemic.
Well now, Sutherland was fined $5,000 for his conduct just hours after he was named the Bradman Young Cricketer of the Year and booked under CA’s code of conduct on January 21
CA and KFC BBL said in a statement: “Melbourne Renegades player Will Sutherland has been sanctioned under the Cricket Australia Code of Conduct following the completion of an investigation into an incident relating to a breach of biosecurity measures in Melbourne on Thursday, January 21.”
It added, “He was found to have played golf and had a meal with people outside the KFC Big Bash League’s bio-secure hub during the tournament. He was subsequently issued with a report and notice of charge under article 2.23 of the Cricket Australia Code of Conduct, relating to conduct that either (a) is contrary to the Spirit of Cricket; (b) is unbecoming of a representative or official; (c) is or could be harmful to the interests of cricket; and/or (d) does or could bring the game of cricket into disrepute.”
The statement concluded, “Sutherland accepted the charge but challenged the proposed sanction of a $10,000 fine with $4000 suspended at a Code of Conduct hearing before Commissioner Adrian Anderson on Monday, February 1. The sanction was subsequently downgraded to a $5,000 fine.”
(With 7 News Inputs)
