ICC World Twenty20 - Symonds sent home for alcohol incident  

Thursday, June 4, 2009


Ricky Ponting and Andrew Symonds take questions during a press conference, Adelaide, November 26, 2008
Ricky Ponting is set to be without Andrew Symonds for the ICC World Twenty20 which starts on Friday © Getty Images

Andrew Symonds has been sent home from the ICC World Twenty20 for an "alcohol-related incident", throwing Australia's plans for the tournament into disarray. Ricky Ponting, the captain, and Cricket Australia chief executive James Sutherland are due to make an announcement in the next hour in regard to the controversial allrounder.

Symonds was a notable absentee at Australia's training session at The Oval on Thursday, prompting speculation that he could be heading home. He has been involved in numerous off-field incidents in recent seasons, most notably the Darwin fishing saga in August 2008, during which he missed a team meeting ahead of the one-day series against Bangladesh, which prompted the team management to send him home from the series.

In addition, he was fined Aus$4000 for a drunken radio interview in January 2009 in which he referred to the New Zealand wicketkeeper Brendan McCullum as "a piece of s..." Symonds apologised, having admitted that alcohol was playing a big part in his life, and he subsequently stated that he was "entering the final chapter of his career".

Cricket Australia issued separate press releases stating that Ponting and Sutherland would address simultaneous media conferences in London and Melbourne "to discuss a player-related issue".

Symonds attended a PCA dinner with the Twenty20 squad at a Kensington hotel on Wednesday night.

AddThis Social Bookmark Button

Nautanki tv

Design by Amanda @ Blogger Buster