Windies lodge protest against ban on spinner Benn

PERTH - The West Indies Cricket Board (WICB) has said that it will send a letter of protest to the International Cricket Council (ICC) over the hefty suspension handed down to spinner Sulieman Benn, but will not appeal against the decision.

Benn was suspended for two one-day internationals after being found guilty of bringing the game into disrepute following an ugly mid-pitch confrontation with Australians Brad Haddin and Mitchell Johnson during the second day of the third Test in Perth on Thursday.

Contact was made between Benn and Johnson after a heated exchange of words got out of hand.

Johnson and Haddin pleaded guilty and were handed lesser sanctions, losing 10 per cent and 25 per cent of their match fees respectively, despite match referee Chris Broad slamming Haddin for his role as an inflamer of the incident.

The West Indies’ hierarchy was upset about the severity of the punishment handed down to Benn, questioning why their player was slapped with a ban when the two Australians escaped with just a fine.

A team spokesman confirmed the West Indies would send a letter of protest to the ICC voicing their disappointment over the disparity in the penalties handed down. (ANI)