Runako Morton banned for one year

Runako Morton has been banned for a year after being found guilty of bringing the game into disrepute by the disciplinary committee of the West Indies Cricket Board (WICB), the board said yesterday.

In keeping with its promise to tackle isssues of discipline "head on", the WICB was forced to apply sanctions on the temperamental Nevisian, who has on more than one occasion before found himself on the wrong side of the authorities.

The 24-year-old has also been slapped with a fine resulting from charges of misconduct on the West Indies `A' team's summer tour of England and Canada.

The suspension, with immediate effect, from all matches under the auspices of or involving the WICB, stemmed from Morton's early departure from the West Indies team at the Champions Trophy series in Sri Lanka in September.

In a release yesterday, the WICB said it was done under "false pretences, through methods to which the player has admitted, thereby bringing himself into disrepute".

"Morton must also seek and receive, as soon as is reasonably practicable, professional counselling as is necessary for him to correct the problems he is currently experiencing with requisite assistance coming from the WICB through the Leeward Islands Cricket Association," the board said.

At the end of the suspension period, Morton will have to submit to the WICB cogent evidence that he underwent the counselling and is fit to resume participating in WICB sanctioned matches.

Morton was allowed to leave the Champions Trophy after informing West Indies team management that his grandmother had died.

It has since been learnt that one of his grandmothers died 16 years ago, while the other is living in Antigua.

Morton joined Barbadians Sulieman Benn and Tino Best in receiving a 10 per cent tour fee fine regarding matters of conduct and behaviour on the West Indies `A' team's tour.

The trio was adjudged to have breached sections of the Code of Conduct.