Mumbai: India’s opening batter Yashasvi Jaiswal and Sri Lanka pacer Asitha Fernando were fined 25% of their match fees for “inappropriate physical contact” during the first day’s play in the second Test at Colombo’s Sinhalese Sports Club Ground on Sunday.
Both players will also have a demerit point added to their disciplinary records based on the ruling of ICC match referee Andy Pycroft.
The incident occurred following Jaiswal’s dismissal by Fernando in the 17th over of the Indian first innings. Jaiswal was walking back to the pavilion before angrily turning back to confront the bowler who dismissed him. It appeared to be a reaction to some remark made by Fernando that offended the batter.
Jaiswal, still wearing his helmet, got into a near head butt with Fernando, who too wasn’t in the mood to take a backward step before the duo were separated by the Sri Lankan fielders.
An ICC statement on Monday said that the players were found guilty of a Level 1 offence, breaching Article 2.12 of the ICC Code of Conduct for Players and Player Support Personnel relating to “inappropriate physical contact with a Player, Player Support Personnel, Umpire, Match Referee or any other person (including a spectator during an International Match).”
Cricket being a non-contact sport, Jaiswal might have been penalised more harshly on another day. Pycroft’s sanctions were accepted by both the players, ruling out the need for a formal hearing.
The demerit point was the first against both Jaiswal and Fernando over the last 24 months. An accumulation of four or more demerit points over a 24-month period results in a conversion to suspension points and a match ban.
The Indian team was also on the defensive over Jaiswal’s behaviour.
“I think the bowler commented something and it happened in the heat of the moment. Obviously, Jaiswal shouldn’t have gone so close to him, but it happened in the heat of the moment,” Indian team assistant coach Sitanshu Kotak told the media on Sunday.
Former India captain, Kapil Dev, when asked about it, said in Delhi: “These things happen. You have to move on in life. Every player has his own character. If that’s the way he wants to play, good luck to him. But as a cricket board, one has to see where they have to draw the line. The players should not cross that line. You are allowed to do whatever you want as long as you are not spoiling the name of cricket.”