/ 2 February 2000

Suspended sentences for Cullinan and Ntini

OWN CORRESPONDENT, Johannesburg | Wednesday 9.30am.

TEST players Daryll Cullinan and Makhaya Ntini were handed suspended sentences on Tuesday following a verbal confrontation in the final of the Supersport Series.

Gauteng batsman Cullinan was suspended for two matches while Border fast bowler Ntini was banned for one match. Both sentences were suspended until the end of the 2000-2001 season.

The incident took place on the final day of the match on Monday.

Ntini said after the game he had laid a complaint after Guateng players made commetns about rape — following his successful appeal against a rape conviction last year.

Cullinan said the level of abuse on the final day became intolerable and certain comments by Ntini “almost amounted to racism”.

Advocate Michael Kuper, who presided over the disciplinary hearing, said: “Whilst it could not be established that the players used the words alleged in the respective complaints, they had used language which contravened the code of conduct. They were thus guilty of the offences alleged.

“They were both severely reprimanded. In addition, the players were handed suspended sentences, which would come into effect should they be found guilty of a similar breach of the code of conduct within the specified period.”