Spinning sensation Steve O'Keefe has been fined $20,000, and banned from the 2017 Matador Cup due to a drunken incident.
O'Keefe is said to have made highly inappropriate comments at Cricket NSW's Steve Waugh Medal awards night. Exactly what the comments were is unclear, although he was under the influence of alcohol at the time of the remarks.
"At an official Cricket NSW function, I became intoxicated and made highly inappropriate comments," explained O'Keefe.
The hefty fine and ban comes on the back of another incident last year. O'Keefe was fined $10,000 by Cricket Australia for events that occurred outside a NSW hotel on a Saturday night. This was after he left the Australian series against Sri Lanka due to injury.
O'Keefe accepted the fine and ban, therefore no Cricket Australia or Cricket NSW hearing took place.
The New South Welshman made a name for himself in Australia's recent tour of India. He claimed 12-70 in the first test, spinning the visitors to victory. He did not top that performance during the rest of the series, however still played an important role.
Involved in O'Keefe's sanction is mandatory counselling. When speaking on the issue, he addressed this requirement.
"I accept the sanctions imposed by Cricket Australia and Cricket NSW and welcome the chance to receive the specialist counselling," he said.
Whether this will effect the spinners chances to play consistently through the Australian summer is yet to be seen. At 32 years of age, O'Keefe will be ruing his inappropriate behaviour, and being forced to miss out on valuable cricket.
