World Cup-winning captain Arjuna Ranatunga has put the blame on Sri Lanka Cricket for mishandling the ball-tampering fiasco during the team’s second Test against West Indies. According to him, the board should have opted for an amicable settlement instead of protesting despite Chandimal’s wrongdoings.

“There is no one at the cricket board to advise the team,” Ranatunga said. “If they knew that Chandimal had done something wrong, they should have worked out an amicable solution without escalating the problem.”

Sri Lanka delayed to take field for two hours on the day-3 of the second Test after being penalized for tampering with the ball. Although the match resumed after a two-hour delay, Sri Lanka skipper Dinesh Chnadimal, who had already been charged for ball-tampering, was then charged with “conduct that is contrary to the spirit of the game” alongside head coach Chandika Hathurusingha and team manager Asanka Gurusinha.

The trio later admitted to breaching ICC’s Code of Conduct. Judicial Commissioner Michael Beloff has been appointed to determine appropriate sanctions for the three of them.

Television footage had revealed that Chandimal applied saliva, containing the residue of something he had in his mouth, to the ball. The 28-year-old he had something in his mouth but failed to recall what it exactly was. Match referee Javagal Sreenath found it “unconvincing” as a defense and hence handed him the maximum punishment available for the offense.

Chandimal had pleaded not guilty to the ball-tampering charges and subsequently failed in his appeal against the sanctions after being found guilty of changing the condition of the ball. He was slapped with four demerit points along with a one-Test ban and fined hundred per cent of his match-fee as well.