Zimbabwe pacer Tinashe Panyangara suspended for disruptive behaviour

Tinashe Panyangara

Zimbabwe pacer Tinashe Panyangara will not play any further part in the ongoing tri-series involving Australia and South Africa following his suspension from the squad for allegedly sharing a Mitchell Johnson bouncer package video with his teammates through Whatsapp, which the Zimbabwe Cricket Board thinks is "disruptive in the build-up to the first ODI of the triangular series". 

The 28-year-old has also been fined US$1,000 for the alleged misbehaviour. Although the Board did not specify any particular reason in its official statement, a ZC spokesperson confirmed that the act did not go down well with the officials and has been viewed as one that can damage the confidence of the players. 

Video in concern

The video is a compilation of Johnson’s barrage of bouncers directed at the England batsmen in the 2013-14 Ashes series Down Under, according to Cricket Australia’s official website, which Australia won 5-0. Johnson annhilated the Poms with some serious pace and bounce, ending the series as the leading wicket-taker.  

During the second One Day International match of the series, which is underway, between South Africa and Australia, SuperSport’s commentary team shed further details while discussing about the incident. 

They said: "Panyangara has downloaded one of these two-minute packages of Mitchell Johnson's bouncer after bouncer and batsman leaping and ducking and bobbing and weaving and being hit, and he's sent it – privately on I think WhatsApp – to the batsmen in the squad with a message saying 'good luck, fellas'." 

The right arm seamer has represented his country in 46 international matches, picking up 58 wickets. The host nation was handed a whopping 198-run defeat in the first match of the triangular, after Australia piled up 350 runs on the board.