Ramdin is fined and banned over catch claim

West Indies wicketkeeper Denesh Ramdin was suspended for two one-day international matches after being found guilty of breaching the ICC’s code of conduct by claiming a catch he dropped during the Champions Trophy match against Pakistan.

Ramdin was also fined his match fee from Friday’s Group B game and will miss the final two pool matches – against India on Tuesday and South Africa on Friday. He was charged by the ICC with displaying “conduct that is contrary to the spirit of the game” by claiming a catch off Pakistan captain Misbah ul-Haq, with the batsman on 0. West Indies won the match by two wickets.

Ramdin, who is the only specialist wicketkeeper in West Indies’ 15-man squad, attended a hearing in London yesterday after pleading not guilty but was handed the maximum punishment available to the ICC. He has the right to appeal.

In the tournament yesterday, Pakistan lost their must-win Champions Trophy clash with South Africa after a woefully paced chase saw them defeated by 67 runs at Edgbaston.

Almost all of the 24,000 fans crammed into the ground were wearing Pakistan colours but having watched their heroes restrict the Proteas to 234 for nine, they were silenced by a flat batting display that saw them dismissed for 167.

Captain Misbah-ul-Haq was largely responsible for the go-slow, top-scoring with 55 but never showing the urgency needed to make the target viable. Both sides lost their Group B opener, meaning Pakistan are now almost certainly heading home, while South Africa live to fight another day.

The victors have Hashim Amla’s measured 81 to thank for their total, while Ryan McLaren (four for 19) and debutant Chris Morris excelled in place of injured pair Morne Morkel and Dale Steyn. Pakistan must now beat arch-rivals India well in their final game and hope that West Indies win the remainder of their matches otherwise it will be an early exit.

In today’s game, beleaguered Australia will look to find some much-needed form and morale when they take on trans-Tasman rivals New Zealand at Edgbaston. The Aussies lost to England at the Birmingham venue on Saturday, while the Kiwis enjoyed a thrilling one-wicket win in a low scoring tussle with Sri Lanka.

New Zealand come into the tournament off the back of an ODI series success over England and will look to deliver a knock-out blow to Australia.