On Saturday, the International Cricket Council (ICC) declared that Wanindu Hasaranga, Sri Lanka’s T20I captain, has been handed a two-match suspension for accumulating five demerit points within a 24-month period due to his recent breach of the ICC Code of Conduct. This breach resulted in a 50 per cent fine and three demerit points for Hasaranga.
According to an official statement from the ICC, Hasaranga was found guilty of violating article 2.13 of the ICC Code of Conduct, which pertains to “Personal abuse of a Player, Player Support Personnel, Umpire, or Match Referee during an International Match.”
Hasaranga’s five demerit points translate to two suspension points, resulting in his suspension from Sri Lanka’s first two T20Is against Bangladesh next month. Two suspension points lead to a ban from either one Test, two ODIs, or two T20Is, whichever comes first for the player or player support personnel.
The incident took place after the match when Hasaranga confronted umpire Lyndon Hanibal regarding a ruling.
Furthermore, Afghanistan’s Rahmanullah Gurbaz has been fined 15 per cent of his match fee for breaching Level 1 of the ICC Code of Conduct during the same match. Rahmanullah was found to have violated article 2.4 of the Code, which concerns “Disobeying an Umpire’s instruction during an International Match.”
Despite repeated warnings not to do so, Rahmanullah changed the grip of his bat on the field of play, leading to the sanction.
Both players admitted to the offences and accepted the sanctions proposed by Chris Broad of the Emirates ICC Elite Panel of Match Referees, eliminating the need for formal hearings.
The charges against the players were brought forth by on-field umpires Lyndon Hannibal and Raveendra Wimalasiri, third umpire Ruchira Palliyaguruge, and fourth umpire Ranmore Martinez.
As outlined in the statement, Level 2 breaches carry a penalty of between 50 and 100 per cent of a player’s match fee and three or four demerit points, while Level 1 breaches result in a minimum penalty of an official reprimand, a maximum penalty of 50 per cent of a player’s match fee, and one or two demerit points.
Despite Sri Lanka winning the three-match T20I series 2-1, with Afghanistan emerging victorious in the last match, Hasaranga was awarded the Player of the Series accolade for his outstanding performance throughout.
