Karvelas cleared by ECB after investigation into Leicestershire incident

Ari Karvelas, the Sussex seamer, has been cleared of breaching ECB regulations on player behaviour following an investigation into an incident during the LV= Insurance County Championship game against Leicestershire at Hove last season.

Karvelas was made unavailable by his club for the final two matches of the season, reportedly over a comment made to Leicestershire's Pakistan international batter Umar Amin during a fractious encounter, which also resulted in an ECB ban for Cheteshwar Pujara, Sussex's captain, and Tom Haines and Jack Carson being stood down for a game apiece.

Sussex won the game but were subsequently docked 12 points by the ECB, effectively ruling them out of the running for promotion from Division Two.

More than a month after the conclusion of the season, Sussex released a statement declaring the matter closed: "Sussex Cricket can confirm that the ECB Integrity Team has concluded its investigation into Ari Karvelas following the LV= Insurance County Championship match against Leicestershire on September 13.

"The ECB Integrity Team has confirmed that there has not been a breach of the ECB regulations and therefore, no further action will be taken. The club now considers this matter closed and will not comment further."

Without the services of Karvelas, their leading wicket-taker in the Championship, Sussex collected a draw and a win from their final two games, which lifted them to a third-placed finish behind Durham and Worcestershire.