Australian bowler Steve O'Keefe slapped $15,000 fine for drunken behavior
Australian left-arm spinner Steve O'Keefe was handed a fine of $15,000 after he was found guilty of making highly inappropriate comments under the influence of alcohol during a cricket function at New South Wales (NSW). He has also been banned from a domestic one-day tournament. This was his second offence within a span of 18 months and he will also undergo appropriate counselling.
Who is Steve O'Keefe?
Stephen Norman John O'Keefe is an Australian cricketer who made his T20 debut in 2010 and test debut in 2014. A left arm-orthodox bowler and a lower order batsman, O'Keefe has made played seven T20 internationals and eight test matches for Australia. He has also played 70 first class matches. He has 244 wickets and 1936 runs in first class cricket.
O'Keefe in the IPL
Steve O'Keefe was picked up by the Indian Premier League team Kochi Tuskers Kerala for $20,000 in an auction in 2010. However, he did not play a single match for the team.
Steve O'Keefe's recent performance against India
Steve O'Keefe took his first five wicket haul in the first test against India at Pune's Maharashtra Cricket Association Stadium in February 2017. He ended the match with bowling figures of 12/70, second best by a visiting bowler in test in India. In the four match series, O'Keefe picked up 19 wickets and scored 45 runs with the bat.
O'Keefe takes responsibility and apologises
After he was fined and banned, Steve O'Keefe said, "At an official Cricket NSW function I became intoxicated and made highly inappropriate comments. There is no excuse for this and I take full responsibility and offer an unconditional apology,"
