Mangongo defends Panyangara ban

Head coach Stephen Mangongo has backed an arguably heavy-handed decision to suspend fast bowler Tinashe Panyangara for the remainder of the ODI tri-series with South Africa and Australia.

Head coach Stephen Mangongo has backed an arguably heavy-handed decision to suspend fast bowler Tinashe Panyangara for the remainder of the ODI tri-series with South Africa and Australia.

Panyangara has ostensibly been banned for sharing footage – of Australian seamer Mitchell Johnson bowling a barrage of short deliveries during the recent Test series against England – with team-mates.

"In any sport, to post a video of the opposition annihilating another team will not be tolerated. I was perplexed that a senior bowler behaved in such a childish manner," Mangongo told <i>ESPNcricinfo</i>. "On the eve of such a serious match, you don't do that."

The sanction follows the financial fine suffered by all-rounder Luke Jongwe during the three-match limited-overs series against the Proteas earlier this month. Jongwe pleaded guilty to a disciplinary committee – and apologised to Mangongo after breaking the team's curfew.

Spinner Prosper Utseya, meanwhile, has been reported for a suspect bowling. International Cricket Council regulations dictate that Utseya must undergo testing before 15 September – but is allowed to continue bowling in international cricket for the preceding three weeks.

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