India batter Yashasvi Jaiswal and Sri Lanka fast bowler Asitha Fernando have each been fined 25 percent of their match fee and handed one demerit point for an incident on the opening day of the second Test in Colombo.
Both were found to have breached Article 2.12 of the ICC Code of Conduct for Players and Player Support Personnel, which covers “inappropriate physical contact with a Player, Player Support Personnel, Umpire, Match Referee or any other person (including a spectator during an International Match)”, the Daily Mirror reported.
What happened
The incident occurred in the 17th over of India’s innings on Sunday, after Fernando dismissed Jaiswal.
The batter walked towards the bowler and the two exchanged words. Fernando then moved his head towards Jaiswal, and Jaiswal leant in, resulting in their heads making contact.
Both players admitted the offences and accepted the sanctions proposed by Andy Pycroft of the Emirates ICC Elite Panel of Match Referees, so no formal hearings were required. Neither had a previous offence in the preceding 24-month period.
Where it leaves them
Under the ICC’s system, demerit points remain on a player’s record for 24 months. Four points within that window convert into a suspension. A single point carries no further consequence on its own for either player.
Jaiswal had made 45 before the dismissal, and Fernando went on to take 4 for 106 as India built their first innings. Fernando’s spell was part of a day-two effort that ended with India declaring on 503 for nine and Sri Lanka closing on 8 for 2.
Jaiswal has separately been reported by the Daily Mirror as responding publicly to commentator Harsha Bhogle over the clash.
The Test is the second and final match of the series. Sri Lanka must win it to draw level after India took the first Test in Galle by 165 runs.
