India opener Yashasvi Jaiswal has been fined 25 per cent of his match fees and handed one demerit point following his heated on-field clash with Sri Lanka fast bowler Asitha Fernando on day one of the ongoing second Test match in Colombo.
The International Cricket Council (ICC) confirmed on Monday that both Jaiswal and Fernando have been sanctioned for breaching Level 1 of its Code of Conduct after their confrontation following the dismissal of the India batter.
Both players were found guilty of breaching Article 2.12, which covers “inappropriate physical contact with a Player, Player Support Personnel, Umpire, Match Referee or any other person” during an international match.
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In addition to the fine, both players were also handed one demerit point each, which has been added to their disciplinary records. Neither player had committed any previous offence in the preceding 24 months.
The incident happened on the final ball of the 17th over, just before lunch on Sunday. Jaiswal was dismissed after a short ball from Fernando jagged back into him and took an inside edge onto the stumps, moments after the India opener had smashed the bowler for three consecutive boundaries.
Jaiswal began walking towards the pavilion, but suddenly turned back and charged at Fernando, sparking a heated exchange before the two made head-to-head contact.
According to the ICC, Fernando “moved his head towards Jaiswal during the heated altercation” and, in response, “Jaiswal leaned in, resulting in their heads making contact”. Sri Lanka captain Dhananjaya de Silva and other players intervened before the confrontation could escalate further.
Both players admitted the breaches and accepted the sanctions proposed by Andy Pycroft of the Emirates ICC Elite Panel of Match Referees, meaning there was no need for a formal hearing. The on-field umpires Ahsan Raza and Sharfuddoula Ibne Shahid, third umpire Rod Tucker, and fourth umpire Prageeth Rambukwella had levelled the charges.
Level 1 breaches carry a minimum penalty of an official reprimand, a maximum fine of 50 per cent of a player’s match fee, and one or two demerit points.