ECB to consider a fine of £8,000 and ban for eight weeks to England batter Gary Ballance.

Cricket General

ECB to consider a fine of £8,000 and ban for eight weeks to England batter Gary Ballance.

The England and Wales Cricket Board (ECB) has considered a fine of £8,000 and a ban for eight weeks on England and ex-Yorkshire batter Gary Ballance for using racist language at Yorkshire.

Ballance was one of six players who were accused of using racist language in the case, which originated from charges made by the former Yorkshire bowler, Azeem Rafiq.

Craig Harris, Ballance's lawyer, claimed that the financial penalty should be lowered due to the cost of being involved in the hearings.

He also noted that Ballance lost his position as a player at Yorkshire, a sponsorship contract, and was not considered for England selection as well.

The suspension appears to have little consequence given to Ballance as he announced his retirement from playing last month.

The board will also recommend sanctions to the independent Cricket Discipline Commission panel in central London for the other five players- John Blain, Tim Bresnan, Andrew Gale, Matthew Hoggard, and Richard Pyrah. 

Notably, Blain, Bresnan, Gale, Hoggard, and Pyrah had all withdrawn from the disciplinary procedures and failed to appear at a liability hearing in March earlier.