THE behaviour of Hampshire cricket star Shaun Udal has been labelled "disgraceful" by a leading club cricket official.
The 34-year-old off-spinner was banned for three-years for "physical violence" following a fracas this summer when he was playing for Camberley - captained by his brother Gary - in the Surrey Championship.
Udal is reported as saying the league wanted to make an example of him - but SL chairman Tony Shilson today hit back at the former England international.
He alleged that Udal wrestled Cranleigh's Australian leg-spinner Alex Wyatt to the ground and also explained that the league had taken into account an incident in 1996 when Udal was banned for the rest of the season following an alleged assault on an opponent.
The Daily Echo carried the story in our later editions on Thursday quoting Udal as saying he feels the league have made an example of him because of his high-profile.
But Shilson said: "What he has to accept is that his behaviour was not acceptable.
"He was banned in 1996 and he can excuse himself all he likes - but his behaviour was still disgraceful.
"He could have asked for a hearing to defend himself on the seriousness of the offence, but didn't.
"This is the second time the same player has been involved in an incident and we took that into account.
"He says he was provoked but it doesn't matter what was said.
"There is no excuse for the way he reacted."
He added: "Any suggestion that he has been treated differently, because of who he is, is quite simply nonsense.
"He has been banned until 2007. A team-mate of his was banned until 2009 for a separate offence of a more gross nature.
"We sometimes have incidents of sledging, but thankfully incidents of this nature are very rare."
Udal, 34, who turned out for Camberley when his county commitments with Hampshire allowed, was batting at the time of the incident.
Witnesses say he and Wyatt exchanged comments and that an altercation followed and contact was made between the pair, who had to be separated by members of the fielding side.
Udal, who has an impeccable disciplinary record in first-class cricket, said: "It does take a lot to get me riled. When I was batting, one of the opposition players severely insulted one of my team-mates.
"A minor fracas took place with a bit of pushing and shoving but there was no fighting and certainly no punches were thrown.
"Sadly, the umpires didn't step in, which is rather symptomatic of the weak officiating that can exist in club cricket. "But the other player and I had a beer in the clubhouse afterwards and said our apologies.
"I am not going to lose any sleep over the punishment.
"The disciplinary committee presumably decided they wanted to make an example of me and that is what they have done."
Udal has taken 604 first class wickets since making his Hampshire debut in 1989, and has also taken 341 limited overs wickets.
In 10 one-day internationals for England in the mid-1990s he took eight wickets.
Only last year he broke the county record for the most successful benefit ever - banking £241,000.
Udal was yesterday unavailable for comment.
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