New Zealand have suspended batsman Jesse Ryder and fast bowler Doug Bracewell for breaching team rules on drinking alcohol.
In a statement issued on Thursday, New Zealand Cricket said the pair will miss Saturday’s third one-day international against South Africa because they drank at a Napier hotel following Wednesday’s second one-dayer, breaching rules which prohibit injured players from drinking.
Bracewell has a strained hamstring and Ryder a minor hand injury.
The statement said the players also responded verbally to taunts from a member of the public.
New Zealand team manager Mike Sadle said both players had apologised and “they know they have let down fans and teammates alike”.
Ryder has a chequered history in the New Zealand team, having previously been fined and stood down for alcohol-related misbehaviour. In 2008 he was injured when he punched a window in a hotel toilet and in 2010 he was fined and warned for his behaviour at an indoor cricket tournament.
On Friday, New Zealand will name its squad for a three-Test series against South Africa and Ryder is expected to be omitted after his latest breach of conduct regulations.
He returned to the New Zealand team after recovering from a calf injury in the third Twenty20 international against South Africa, scoring 52. Ryder made scores of 6 and 0 in the first two matches of the three-match one-day international series. — Sapa-AP