Zimbabwe all-rounder Sean Williams has landed himself into fresh controversy which has resulted in a three-match suspension at the ongoing domestic Twenty20 (T20) competition in Bulawayo.
by Kevin Mapasure
Williams was summoned for a hearing on Wednesday where he was found guilty of misconduct over insulting the umpire.
Yesterday, Zimbabwe Cricket (ZC) public relations manager Darlington Majonga confirmed the incident and Williams’ suspension.
Sean Williams
“We can confirm Mid-West Rhinos captain Sean Williams was this week handed a three-match ban for serious breach of Zimbabwe Cricket (ZC)’s code of conduct,” Majonga said in a statement. “The player was found guilty of abusing, intimidating and threatening umpire Owen Chirombe during the domestic Twenty20 match pitting Mid-West Rhinos against Matabeleland Tuskers at Bulawayo Athletic Club on Tuesday.”
It is understood Williams in the insult insinuated that Chirombe would die a poor man besides also calling him an “idiot”.
Williams was also fined $150 for the offence. His ban would have been reduced to two matches if he had paid the fine by Wednesday afternoon, but he failed to do so.
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This means he was suspended for Mid-West Rhinos’ three matches against Mashonaland Eagles (Wednesday), Matabeleland Tuskers (yesterday ) and Mashonaland Eagles (today).
The statement continued: “The sanctions were imposed following a disciplinary hearing chaired by match referee Emmanuel Dube at Bulawayo Athletic Club on Wednesday.
Williams attended the hearing alongside Mid-West Rhinos manager Adam Chifo and coach Robin Brown, while the complainant, Chirombe, was also present together with fellow umpire Christopher Phiri.
The complaint arose after Williams hurled insults and threats to Chirombe for warning the Mid-West Rhinos captain that “their over-rate was two minutes down during over number 7.3”. In handing down the punishment, Dube noted that this was a serious offence that required maximum sanctions that would act as a deterrent to others.
The talented left-hand batsman is not new to controversy having been involved in another incident with former coach Steve Mangongo after he skipped training.
He was subsequently left out of the squad that toured Bangladesh in 2014 and he also missed some matches against Pakistan due to a pay dispute with ZC.
