Adelaide (Australia): Australian batsman Darren Lehmann was on Saturday suspended for five One-day International matches for making racial remarks during a tri-series match against Sri Lanka.

Lehmann was found guilty of breaching the International Cricket Council's (ICC) racial vilification code by ICC match referee Clive Lloyd during a three-hour hearing on Saturday.

He will miss four or five remaining matches in the triangular One-day series against Sri Lanka and England, along with possibly Australia's opening match at the World Cup, starting next month in South Africa and Zimbabwe.

Lehmann is the first international cricketer to be suspended for breaching the ICC's racial code of conduct.

Lloyd's verdict was delivered to Lehmann shortly before he left to attend the christening of his young twins.

Lehmann reportedly referred to Sri Lankan players as "black" in a two-word obscenity shouted by him when entering the Australian dressing room after being marginally run out in a One-day game with Sri Lanka in Brisbane on Wednesday.

He offered verbal and written apologies to the Sri Lankans, which were immediately accepted.

The Australian Cricket Board instructed Lehmann to undergo counselling but they did not impose a further penalty, prompting the ICC to charge the 32-year-old player under the racial vilification code.

Lehmann had the right of appeal, but his lawyer, Greg Griffin, said there would be no appeal.

Lloyd said the breach made by Lehmann could be punished by a ban of between two and four Test matches or between four and eight One-day Internationals.

"In this instance, I have decided that a ban of five One-day Internationals is the appropriate punishment. Lehmann has apologised for the remarks," Lloyd said.

"In reaching my decision, I took into consideration Darren's impeccable record and other matters put to me about his standing and reputation in cricket.

"Darren's comments could be interpreted as deeply offensive, and I do not think we can condone such things in sport or life in general."

Lloyd said if he had imposed the maximum penalty of eight One-day Internationals, Lehmann's World Cup would have been "thrown out of the window".

Now he still had a chance of playing a very major role in the competition, he said. Lloyd denied the ICC was making an example of Lehmann.

"The point is that we have to abide by a code. It doesn't matter who you are - if we have a code, we have to stiick by that.

"I hope this will serve as a warning to other players, because we really cannot condone this sort of stuff in the society we live in. As sportsmen, we have to show the way. We have to be above those sort of things.

"I spoke to all managers and coaches before the One-day contest started about the importance of behaving properly, because if they transgressed they could miss out on some very important World Cup games."

Lehmann read a prepared statement, in which he said, "I accept the penalty handed down, and would like to say again how regretful I am that the incident took place.

"I meant no offence by my comments, and again would like to apologise for making them. I would also like to thank the Sri Lankan team for their support and understanding in this matter."

In the current tri-nations One-day series, Australia has two qualifying matches and will play in the best-of-three final.

If either of the finalists won the first two games, the third will not be played.

Copyright AFP 2001

Extras:
Yorkshire urged to sack 'racist foul-mouth' Lehmann