Image Credit- AFP
The ICC has suspended Sri Lanka’s T20I skipper Wanindu
Hasaranga for two matches after he had an altercation with umpire Lyndon
Hannibal during the team’s third T20I encounter against Afghanistan on February
21. Hasaranga will miss Sri Lanka’s opening two Twenty20 Internationals (T20Is)
against Bangladesh in March and was also fined half of his match fees.
Umpire Hannibal failed to declare a high full-toss from Wafadar Momand to
Kamindu Mendis as a no-ball, which led to the incident. Although Kamindu had scooted
down the pitch, if he had been standing straight at the popping crease, the
delivery would have probably landed above his waist. Based on the playing
conditions set by the ICC, this would be considered a no-ball.
“Hasaranga was found guilty of breaching article
2.13 of the ICC Code of Conduct for Players and Player Support Personnel, which
relates to ‘Personal abuse of a Player, Player Support Personnel, Umpire or
Match Referee during an International Match’,” the ICC said in a
statement. “Hasaranga’s accumulation of five demerit points (he got three
for this infraction) results in a conversion to two suspension points. This
means he will either get a ban for one Test match or two ODIs or T20Is, whichever
comes first, for the player or player support personnel.”
Afghanistan batter Rahmanullah Gurbaz was also fined
15% of his match fee and given one demerit point for “disobeying an
umpire’s instruction during an international match.” Gurbaz’s offence was
“altering the grip of his bat on the field despite repeated warnings
against doing so,” the ICC said. Gurbaz’s demerit-points tally now stands
at two.