The ugly Aussie mouth opens

Lehmann apologised to the Sri Lankans, both in person and in writing, and the tourists said later they had decided not to proceed with any charges. But the International Cricket Council (ICC) released a statement on Thursday to announce that Lehmann had been charged with a level three breach of the ICC Code of Conduct for Players and Officials.

“As a result of an overnight investigation and on the basis of reports received from Australia, I have decided to charge Darren Lehmann with a breach of Level 3.4 of the ICC Code of Conduct,” ICC chief executive Malcolm Speed said in a statement.

“I am aware that Lehmann has apologised for his actions and that the Sri Lanka team was reluctant to lay any formal charges. I have, however, carefully considered the situation and, in the interests of eradicating racial vilification in international cricket, I am bound to lay this charge.”

The penalty could be as much as an eight-match suspension if Lehman is found guilty, the ICC statement said, and would be a huge blow for the Australian batsman just three weeks’ before the start of next month’s World Cup in South Africa. Level 3.4 of the ICC code reads: “Using language or gestures that offends, insults, humiliates, intimidates, threatens, disparages or vilifies another person on the basis of that person’s race, religion, colour, descent or national or ethnic origin.”

Sri Lanka team manager Ajit Jayasekera said: “It just happened on the spur of the moment and he apologised. As far as we are concerned, the matter is closed.” (Reuters)