Last Update on: November 10th, 2023 at 12:48 pm
Kiwi Test specialist Henry Nicholls has been accused of breaking the New Zealand Code Of Conduct after being reported by umpires for ball-tampering in a domestic first-class match.
The umpires have provided video footage of the same through television where Nicholls was charged with ball-tempering in a Plunkett Shield match between Canterbury province and Auckland earlier this week.
“Nicholls has been reported for allegedly breaching Rule 3.1, article 1.15 of the Code during Day 3 of the Plunket Shield match between Canterbury and Auckland at Hagley Oval,” New Zealand Cricket said in a statement Friday.
The rule “involves changing the condition of the ball in breach of Law 41.3 of the Laws of Cricket” the statement added further.
New Zealand’s Henry Nicholls In Big Trouble Over Ball-Tampering Charges
New Zealand Cricket said that the matter has been referred to a commissioner for first-class cricket. No date has been set for the hearing yet with the southpaw scheduled to tour Bangladesh with the national squad later this month.
The southpaw has refrained from commenting on the matter yet. New Zealand are currently in India playing the ICC World Cup 2023. They defeated Sri Lanka in their last league game and are poised to reach the semi-finals.
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Pakistan also have an outside chance of making the semi-finals if they beat England in their last league game in Kolkata. However, they are up against it with some tough questions lined up against them.
If Pakistan bats first and scores 300, they need to restrict England to 13. They need to maintain a margin of 287 runs if they score more than 300 runs in Kolkata. If Pakistan bowls first. their chances look very bleak. Even if they shoot out England for 100, they need to chase down the total in 2.5 overs, meaning win with 283 balls to spare.
Afghanistan also has an outside chance of making the semi-final if they beat South Africa in their last league game. They had Australia 91/7 in their previous game before an unbeaten 201 from Glenn Maxwell turned the tables and won the match for Australia.
Given where New Zealand are placed on the table and the tough equations for Pakistan an Afghanistan, they Kiwis are almost sure to make the semi-finals of the World Cup.
Also Read: SA vs AFG Match Preview– ICC World Cup 2023, Match 42
