Symonds sent home in disgrace after incident involving alcohol

LONDON: Australian all-rounder Andrew Symonds is being sent home from the World Twenty20 tournament in England for disciplinary reasons, Cricket Australia (CA) said on Thursday.

CA chief executive James Sutherland told a hastily-arranged news conference in Melbourne broadcast on national television that Symonds had been ordered home for alcohol related issues.

‘The decision has been made after Andrew, in the last 24 to 48 hours, has broken a number of team rules,’ Sutherland said.

‘In isolation those breaches are not significant but in the context of the commitment that Andrew has made to his team mates and Cricket Australia over the last six to 12 months they are the final straw.’

Symonds was a notable absentee from Australia training at The Oval in London where captain Ricky Ponting held a news conference.

‘He has let himself down, his team mates down and Cricket Australia down,’ Ponting said. ‘There is no doubting his credentials as a player but there are a number of his own commitments that he has broken over the last 24 or 48 hours.

‘This decision is all about the bigger picture, all about having the best team we can possibly have and bringing on the next generation of Australian players.’

CA said it was seeking clarification from the International Cricket Council about whether they can name a replacement for Symonds in their Twenty20 squad.

Sutherland said Symonds was expected to fly back to Australia immediately and his international career remains in doubt with his contract due to expire at the end of this month.

Symonds had been offered a new deal but Sutherland said that was now under review.

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