English club cricketer loses Indian restaurant sponsorship after viral cheating scandal

A cheating controversy in English club cricket has sent shockwaves through the cricketing community after a video of an alleged act of deception went viral on social media. The incident occurred during a match involving Saltburn Cricket Club's Second XI, where a fielder was seen snapping his fingers, standing in the slips to imitate the sound of the ball edging the bat.

The fake sound convinced the umpire that the batter had nicked the delivery, resulting in him being given out caught behind despite there being no contact between the bat and the ball. The clip quickly spread across social media, drawing widespread criticism from fans and players alike, with many describing the incident as one of the most blatant acts of gamesmanship seen in club cricket.

The controversy has continued to grow, with Brian Devine now reportedly under investigation for his actions. Adding to his troubles, reports suggest he has also lost the backing of his local sponsor, Indian restaurant ‘Spices.’ following the backlash generated by the incident.

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Cricket fans have been relentless in their criticism, with many mocking the player by dubbing him ‘Clicky Ponting’, a tongue-in-cheek reference to former Australia captain Ricky Ponting.

Renowned television host Piers Morgan took to X to slam the incident, calling Devine ‘the biggest cheat in cricket history’ as the controversy continued to dominate discussions across social media.

“Unbelievable. Clicky Ponting must be the biggest cheat in cricket history. How long has he been doing this? How many batsmen’s days has he ruined?,” wrote Morgan on X.

Unbelievable. Clicky Ponting must be the biggest cheat in cricket history. How long has he been doing this? How many batsmen’s days has he ruined? https://t.co/XptHEfE9uo

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As the allegations continued to mount, the North Yorkshire and South Durham Cricket League stepped in and announced that it had launched a formal investigation into the incident. The league is now examining the circumstances surrounding the controversial dismissal, with the outcome expected to determine whether any disciplinary action will be taken against the player.

"The league have received a formal complaint regarding alleged incidents in a Division Two game on Saturday. A full investigation has been initiated and until such time as the formal processes are complete no further comment will be made,” said the league as quoted by NDTV Sports.