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The Brisbane Heat as well as captain Chris Lynn and teammate Dan Lawrence have been fined a combined $70,000 for a COVID-19 protocol breach in Canberra.
The Brisbane Heat have been hit with at least a $30,000 penalty while captain Chris Lynn and teammate Dan Lawrence have also been fined after COVID-19 protocol breaches in Canberra.
In a statement on Tuesday, the apologetic Brisbane Heat captain admitted to taking a photo with a member of public at a licensed venue and catching a taxi.
The incident, in contravention to the BBL's biosecurity rules, was brought to light in the hours before the Heat's clash with the Sydney Thunder on Monday.
Lynn and English teammate Daniel Lawrence were still allowed to play but forced to keep their distance from other players and officials.
They were made to pay on Tuesday, Cricket Australia handing down a $50,000 fine to the club - $20,000 of which is suspended for the remainder of the BBL season.
Of the $10,000 fines to both players, $4000 has been suspended.
Lynn explained that he had been "lulled into a false sense of security" by Australia's effective management of the virus, but admitted that he had knowingly flouted rules with what Cricket Australia admitted were "low risk" breaches.
But Cricket Australia's head of integrity and security Sean Carroll said they were unacceptable and put the BBL in jeopardy.
"Potential COVID-19 hotspots and related impacts on state borders remain a challenge for the league and it is imperative that all protocols are adhered to, giving us the best opportunity to move around the country and execute the full schedule," he said.
"While Australia's current COVID-19 infection rate remains low, we must ensure that appropriate measures are taken to reduce the possibility of any player, staff member or official being connected to a declared hot spot."
Lynn said he had been careless and was grateful he was allowed to play, the big-hitter scoring 69 in a game the Thunder snatched at the death to add to the Heat's headaches.
"Having a photo with a fan at a licensed venue and travelling in taxi seem pretty low risk but they were identified in our briefings as examples of things you couldn't do," he said.
"I was probably lulled into a false sense of security that because everything has been improving around the country we were getting closer to normal behaviour.''
"But the rules, including avoiding close contact, are there to protect the BBL competition and all the players and teams and I do apologise sincerely to everyone for jeopardising that."
The incident was Australian cricket's first COVID-19 protocol breach - after the WBBL tournament and two international white-ball series between Australia and India were played without incident.
The two countries will begin their four-Test series in Adelaide on Thursday while the BBL is set to expand across the country after beginning in Tasmanian and Canberra hubs.
