Namibia’s Christi Viljoen earns four-match suspension

Christi Viljoen, the 31-year old Namibia allrounder, has been handed a four-match suspension for breaching ICC’s Anti-Racism Code during the T20 World Cup Africa Qualifiers in May.

Viljoen’s sledges towards Uganda players on May 21 were deemed “inappropriate”. He accepted the charges against him.

Section 2.1.1 of the code, which he breached, pertains to “engaging in any conduct (whether through the use of language, gestures or otherwise) which is likely to offend, insult, humiliate, intimidate, threaten, disparage or vilify any reasonable person in the position of a player, umpire, match referee or any other person (including a spectator) on the basis of their race, religion, culture, colour, descent, national or ethnic origin”.

As per ICC’s rehabilitation measures for those suspended under this code, Viljoen will have to undergo an education programme to “promote a better understanding and awareness of issues” directly relevant to the offence he has committed.

Viljoen had an impressive tournament performance-wise, picking up nine wickets in three matches, apart from making 33 in a winning cause against Uganda.