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Cape Town - International Cricket Council (ICC) CEO David Richardson has hit out at Cricket South Africa (CSA) counterpart Haroon Lorgat for accusing him of ball tampering during his playing days.
Richardson was speaking after his organisation on Friday expressed its disappointment at Proteas captain Faf du Plessis' decision to appeal against a guilty verdict for ball tampering.
Du Plessis was found guilty of breaching Article 2. 2.9 of the ICC code of conduct after television footage appeared to show him applying an artificial substance to the ball during the fourth day’s play in the second Test against Australia in Hobart.
According to both the Cricinfo and cricket.com.au websites, Lorgat had suggested that former Proteas wicketkeeper Richardson was part of South Africa’s "ball shining brigade" during his playing days.
"I thought that comment was probably inappropriate," said Richardson, who played 42 Tests and 122 One-Day Internationals between 1991 and 1998.
"But I can speak for myself and I can confirm - probably because I was the wicketkeeper and had no real need to shine the ball in any way, and I used lip-ice and sunscreen religiously for 30 years - I never put it on the ball."
Richardson was also critical of the South African team’s initial response to the charge being laid when their players held a media conference in which they all turned out in support of Du Plessis, with batsman Hashim Amla describing the charge as a 'farce' and a 'joke'.
"I think it's fair to say I'm disappointed that they (South Africa) don't respect that the laws are there. They are there and the process is not necessarily respected,” said Richardson.
