India Cricketer Cheteshwar Pujara Gets Suspended By ECB In County Cricket Championship; Here's Why

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Senior India cricketer Cheteshwar Pujara - who is often hailed as one of the nicest guys in the Indian Test side - has been reprimanded and slapped with a one-match ban while leading Sussex in England's Division II of the County Championship.

This punitive measure comes after Sussex accumulated their fourth fixed penalty of the ongoing season, which has also resulted in a 12-point penalty for the team.

Pujara, who has put up a strong performance this season with three centuries under his belt, will be unavailable for his team's upcoming match against Derbyshire, starting Tuesday (September 19).

Why Sussex County Team Was Penalised?

The Sussex club received their third and fourth penalties of the season during their recent victory over Leicestershire at Hove in the County Championship. As per the Championship's rules, reaching four penalties in a season triggers a 12-point deduction under regulation 4.29 of the Professional Conduct Regulations.

Why Cheteshwar Pujara Received One-Match Ban?

Furthermore, regulation 3.0 states that a captain who led the side in all these matches will also face a one-match ban, hence the suspension of Pujara. Despite losing 12 points, and a key member in Pujara, the team is looking to turn this situation into an opportunity by showcasing their abilities. Tom Alsop will be captaining the side against Derbyshire.

Sussex Cricketers' Indiscipline Against Leicestershire

Sussex's match against Leicestershire was marred by individual penalties. Tom Haines and Jack Carson were both reported by umpires for their in-match behaviours, resulting in their exclusion from the team's next match against Derbyshire.

In addition, Ari Karvelas is under investigation and has been dropped from the squad until further notice. Despite these disciplinary issues, opportunities for other squad members have emerged, and Sussex is determined to put up a strong show.

Sussex coach disappointed with Pujara's unavailability

Sussex's head coach Paul Farbrace expressed his disappointment about the incidents which have marred a season of hard work. "It is a great shame that these incidents have tarnished what was a fantastic game against Leicestershire... "I am disappointed for our fantastic members and supporters and can assure them we will be working hard to make sure we are not in this position again," Farbrace was quoted as saying by the media.

"Ultimately it has cost us the availability of Cheteshwar and we have been deducted 12 points. We have also decided it is not appropriate for Ari Karvelas to be made available for selection until the investigation that is in place has been concluded. This provides other players in our squad with a great opportunity to show they can perform at this level, and more importantly, contribute towards the team challenge to win matches in the County Championship," the coach added further.