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Cricket West Indies (CWI) on Friday, November 8 handed Alzarri Joseph, West Indies pacer with a two-match ban after controversially storming off the field after an argument with captain Shai Hope. The Windies pacer found himself in hot waters when he walked off the field after an argument with their captain in the third ODI against England on November 6 at the Kensington Oval in Bridgetown, Barbados.
Notably, things heated up over a field change during the fourth over of the English innings after the hosts opted to bat and Joseph dismissed Jordan Cox. Soon after his departure from the field, the Windies were left to only ten men.
CWI hands Alzarri Joseph with two-match ban over “code of conduct”
The decision of the West Indies cricket body follows Joseph’s “conduct falling short of CWI’s standards of professionalism.” “Alzarri’s behavior did not align with the core values that Cricket West Indies upholds,” CWI Director of Cricket, Miles Bascombe said. “Such conduct cannot be overlooked, and we have taken decisive action to ensure the gravity of the situation is fully acknowledged,” he further added.
Earlier after the incident, the 27-year-old fast bowler publicly apologised for the incident adding, “my passion got the best of me.” “I have personally apologised to captain Shai Hope and my teammates and management. I also extend my sincerest apologies to the West Indies fans. I understand that even a brief lapse in judgement can have a far-reaching impact, and I deeply regret any disappointment caused,” he added.
It is to be noted that after a brief exchange, Joseph returned to the field for the beginning of the sixth over but did not resume bowling until the 12th over. He bowled two more overs, before leaving the field again after two misfields off his bowling. He later returned to bowl two more in the middle overs. At the end, he finished the match with the figures of 2 for 45 from his 10 overs.
