Colombo: ICC sanctions Jaiswal and Fernando after on-field incident
On-Field Confrontation Leads to Sanctions
India batter Yashasvi Jaiswal and Sri Lanka bowler Asitha Fernando have received sanctions from the ICC following an incident that occurred on the opening day of the second ICC World Test Championship match in Colombo. Both players were found to have violated Article 2.12 of the ICC Code of Conduct for Players and Player Support Personnel.
This article specifically addresses “inappropriate physical contact with a Player, Player Support Personnel, Umpire, Match Referee or any other person (including a spectator during an International Match).” As a consequence of their actions, Jaiswal and Fernando were each fined 25 per cent of their match fee and received one demerit point.
The incident took place during the 17th over of India’s batting innings. Fernando had just dismissed Jaiswal, who was walking back to the pavilion. The India batter then turned and confronted Fernando, leading to an exchange of words. Fernando moved his head towards Jaiswal, who then leaned in, resulting in their heads making contact.
Both players acknowledged their offenses and accepted the sanctions proposed by Andy Pycroft of the Emirates ICC Elite Panel of Match Referees. This admission meant that formal hearings were not required to address the matter. Neither player had any prior offenses recorded in the 24-month period leading up to this incident.
Details of the Altercation
The confrontation between Jaiswal and Fernando escalated after Fernando dismissed Jaiswal for 45 runs. This dismissal followed an over in which Fernando had conceded three boundaries to the left-handed Jaiswal. Fernando’s reaction included a send-off as Jaiswal began to walk off the field, which prompted Jaiswal to turn and confront the bowler.
The exchange quickly intensified, with both players trading words before coming face-to-face. During this heated moment, Jaiswal’s helmet made contact with Fernando’s forehead. There was also a push involved before Sri Lanka captain Dhananjaya de Silva and other players intervened to separate them, preventing further escalation of the incident.
Former India all-rounder Ajay Jadeja commented on the incident, criticising Jaiswal for allowing the confrontation to become physical. Speaking on Sony Sports, Jadeja highlighted the dangers of physical contact in such situations. He also drew a comparison to a previous incident involving Jaiswal and Sri Lanka’s Niroshan Dickwella, where Jaiswal was on the fielding side.
Jadeja emphasized that while banter can be acceptable, physical contact crosses a significant line. He also noted that players who engage in verbal exchanges should be prepared to receive similar treatment. His message to Jaiswal was clear: “If you can’t take it back, don’t say it to others either while standing on the ground.”
India batting coach Sitanshu Kotak also addressed the situation, acknowledging that Jaiswal should not have approached Fernando so closely. Kotak suggested that the exchange likely occurred in the heat of the moment, possibly triggered by a comment from the bowler. He reiterated this assessment in a post-day press conference, indicating that something Fernando said might have provoked Jaiswal’s reaction.
Sri Lanka fast bowling coach Ryan van Niekerk chose not to comment on potential punishments, deferring the matter to match referee Andy Pycroft. He stated that the verbal exchanges were likely an “overflow of emotion” and that the match referee would handle the situation. The charges were leveled by on-field umpires Ahsan Raza and Sharfuddoula Ibne Shahid, third umpire Rod Tucker, and fourth umpire Prageeth Rambukwella.
The ICC Code of Conduct’s Level 1 breaches can result in penalties ranging from an official reprimand to a maximum fine of 50 per cent of a player’s match fee, along with one or two demerit points. The sanctions for Jaiswal and Fernando align with these guidelines, with both receiving a 25 per cent fine and one demerit point each.
Rain interrupted play during the second session on day 2 of the match, with India having reached 475/8. Dhruv Jurel was unbeaten on 95 runs, just five runs shy of his second Test century.
Source: icc-cricket.com
Priya Menon 