New Zealand’s Henry Nicholls to face ball tampering charge | Cricket News

NEW DELHI: New Zealand Test cricketer Henry Nicholls has been accused of breaking New Zealand Cricket‘s code of conduct for alleged ball tampering during a domestic first-class match this week. Umpires reported the incident, and television footage from the Plunket Shield match between Nicholls’ Canterbury province and Auckland appears to show him brushing the ball against a helmet during a change of ends.
“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,” read a statement from New Zealand Cricket on Friday.The rule in question “involves changing the condition of the ball in breach of Law 41.3 of the Laws of Cricket.”
The allegation has been referred to a commissioner for first-class cricket, and no date has been set for the hearing. Nicholls, who is part of the New Zealand squad set to tour Bangladesh later this month, has not commented on the charge.
New Zealand Cricket‘s statement comes amidst the team’s limited-overs players participating in the Cricket World Cup in India. New Zealand’s recent win over Sri Lanka on Thursday has brought them closer to qualifying for the semifinals, but the off-field controversy surrounding Nicholls adds an unexpected twist to their cricketing narrative.
The outcome of the hearing could have implications for Nicholls’ immediate cricketing future and may impact New Zealand’s plans for the upcoming tour of Bangladesh.
(With inputs from AP)