Haq sent home by Scotland

Scotland's coach Grant Bradburn has expressed relief at the support from Cricket Scotland when they sent Majid Haq, their most-capped player and leading wicket-taker, home from the World Cup after a breach of discipline.

Haq reacted angrily to being omitted from the side and intimated on Twitter that the decision had racist undertones - an allegation he quickly withdrew by deleting the tweet.

Bradburn told QTV Sports: "It became obvious what we needed to do. It is not the situation that we would like to have to deal with particularly in a tournament like this when we are in the midst of playing some of the best teams in the world, but I am very impressed with the way that Cricket Scotland have handled the situation swiftly.

"I had the cricket conversations with Majid as I do all of the players. As a coach you get used to having hard conversations with players. That is my job, particularly players who aren't playing.

"They are not easy to have. You have to give them direct clarity, give them honesty and show compassion and value them as people and players and I always take a lot of care over that side of my coaching.

"I would expect them to be disappointed over not playing but unfortunately Maj has chosen a way to react which has contravened the values of the side and of his employers, Cricket Scotland."

No details have been formally released by Cricket Scotland but Haq's discontent followed the decision to omit him from the team to play Sri Lanka. He was replaced in the XI by fellow offspinner Michael Leask, as Scotland lost their fifth match at the World Cup by 148 runs.

The team issued a statement, which said: "Following a breach of Cricket Scotland's internal code of conduct, international team member Majid Haq is travelling home from the ICC World Cup. No further statement will be issued until this process has been completed in due course."

The BBC reported that Haq sent a tweet, subsequently deleted, saying: "Always tougher when your in the minority!! #colour #race". Another tweet included the message: "Make sure everybody in your 'boat' is rowing and not drilling holes when you're not looking. Know your circle."

pic.twitter.com/6MBvvwjtMa

— Majid Haq (@MajidHaq) March 11, 2015

Haq also faces a three-match suspension at the start of the Scottish club season. The Western District Cricket Union imposed the punishment for dissent, abuse of equipment and abusive language - although he was also reprimanded for public criticism.

Haq, 32, has only taken three wickets at tournament but his economy of 4.88 is impressive. Overall, he has played more than 200 times for Scotland, taking 258 wickets, including 60 in one-day internationals.

Leask, 24, managed figures of 0 for 63 off nine overs in his first World Cup appearance. Scotland have one final opportunity to register a win when they play Australia on Saturday.