Antigua: West Indies cricket team joined the audience who were giving great ovation on the third day of Antigua test against England, when young bowler Alzarri Joseph came into middle to bat after James Anderson struck two wickets with West Indies leading by 102 runs at 289-8.

He was being given the ovation as the young paceman had lost his mother just hours before coming in to bat here at Antigua.

The West Indies team and Joseph were informed about the demise of Joseph’s mother Sharon Joseph, after prolonged illness just before the start of day’s play, but the youngman did not leave the field and instead set an great example of ‘Incredible courage’. The West Indies team wore black armbands to as a mark of respect, and joined the applause to laud the effort of the youngster in taking to the field to bat.

West Indies team manager Rawl Levis stated “It is with great sadness that we have been informed that Sharon Joseph, the mother of our young fast bowler Alzarri Joseph, has passed away.

"We know that this will be a very sad and difficult time for Alzarri and his family”.

Joseph later also bowled in the inning and managed to pick two wickets by conceding 12 runs in 7 overs including that of England captain Joe Root, he also took a catch.

West Indies won the match by 10 wickets and Captain Jason Holder in the post-match presentation dedicated the win to Alzarri Joseph.

"Alzarri's mum passed away, so we rallied around each other, we wanted to do it for her," West Indies Captain Jason Holder said. "For Alzarri to be involved, credit to him and his family."

 

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New Delhi (PTI): Rajasthan Royals captain Riyan Parag is set to be fined 25 per cent of his match fee for bringing the game into "disrepute" after being caught vaping on camera during the IPL game against Punjab Kings in Mullanpur.

Parag's actions during the Royals' chase on Tuesday night drew condemnation on social media.

PTI has learned that on field umpires Tanmay Srivastava and Nitin Menon had not reported the matter to match referee Amit Sharma right after the game. They only did that after seeing visual proof and Sharma found Parag guilty for a code of conduct breach as per the IPL guidelines.

The Level 1 offences carries 25 per cent deduction from match fees and one demerit point.

"He is set to be fined a portion of his match fees and a demerit point for a Level 1 offence," said an IPL source.

The Indian government had banned e-cigarettes back in 2019, prohibiting their production, sale and distribution. As per the law, the offender faces imprisonment up to one year and/or a Rs one lakh fine for a first time offence.

"Article 2.21 of IPL Code of Conduct is intended to cover all types of conduct that bring the game into disrepute and which is not specifically and adequately covered by the specific offences set out elsewhere in this Code of Conduct, including Article 2.20," the IPL Code of Conduct states.

"By way of example, Article 2.21 may (depending upon the seriousness and context of the breach) prohibit, without limitation, the following: (a) public acts of misconduct; (b) unruly public behaviour; and (c) inappropriate comments which are detrimental to the interests of the game.

"When assessing the seriousness of the offence, the context of the particular situation, and whether it was deliberate, reckless, negligent, avoidable and/or accidental, shall be considered.

"Further, the person lodging the Report shall determine where on the range of severity the conduct lays (with the range of severity starting at conduct of a minor nature (and hence a Level 1 Offence) up to conduct of an extremely serious nature (and hence a Level 4 Offence)."

Since it is a Level 1 offence there was no need for a hearing.

Parag, who has not had the best of times with the bat this IPL, was seen inhaling an e-cigarette, also known as vaping, in the dressing room during the live broadcast of their game against Punjab Kings. Royals won the game to end Kings' unbeaten run in the tournament.

This is not the first controversy to hit the Royals this season. Earlier this month, team manager Romi Bhinder was fined Rs one lakh for breaching PMOA protocol after being found using his phone in the dugout.

IPL and BCCI officials involved in the conduct of the IPL termed it as a careless act in the age of social media and prying TV cameras.

Royals next host Delhi Capitals at home on Friday night.