By Champika Fernando
Sri Lanka Cricket will not push for a local investigation over the ball tampering incident during the third day of the second Test between Sri Lanka and West Indies in St. Lucia.

Sri Lanka skipper Dinesh Chandimal was caught on camera appearing to alter the condition of the ball and was slapped with an one match ban. Chandimal now faces further reprimand for his role in holding up play for two hours, along with Manager Asanka Gurusinha and Coach Chandika Hathurusingha from the International Cricket Council (ICC)
The hearing takes place on July 10.

The trio have been charged with a 'level 3' offence for conduct contrary to the spirit of the game and may face severe sanctions (despite all three pleading guilty) owing to the seriousness of the offence and the need to discourage un-cricket like conduct.

A level 3 offence carries with it a minimum ban of two Test matches up to a maximum of four; or four ODIs up to a maximum of eight. This means, in all probability, Chandimal will not be available for the two-match Test series against South Africa starting July 12, two days after the scheduled hearing.

However Sports Minister Faiszer Musthapha said that there will not be a local inquiry against the team think-tank, even though he doesn’t condone such behaviour.

“We are disturbed by the decision made by the team for two hours,” Musthapha told reporters in Colombo. “It was a mistake, which we certainly would not accept. We stand by Chandimal even now even though he has been found guilty. The team was emotional on the issue, that we must understand. But what is wrong is wrong, I do not accept what took place”. 

"We regret the team not going onto the field for two hours. We should maintain discipline of the highest order. SLC is committed to spirit of cricket. We maintained that Chandimal was innocent, but the ICC has issued a sanction and we abide by it," Musthapha added.

This is complete contrast to how Cricket Australia dealt with Steve Smith, David Warner and Cameron Bancroft after they admitted to ball tampering. After ICC imposed match bans and fines, Cricket Australia further imposed sanctions the players following an internal inquiry.
Speaking after the team returned to the Island, Team Manager Asanka Gurusinha the entire team regret the incident as it was against the spirit of the game. He said they became too emotional at that time.
“We deeply regret what happened during the match,” Gurusinha said. “ I think we became too emotional without following the rules. Whatever happened we should have taken the field,” Gurusinha said.
“We are hoping to appeal to the ICC to reduce the punishment. Coach and captain should be there for the two Tests vs SA. We can give many excuses, but eventually the team did well in the third Test without the Coach and Manager, that's highly commendable,” he explained.