ICC suspends Sri Lanka’s Wanindu Hasaranga from tests against Bangladesh
Hasaranga was suspended for showing dissent over an umpire’s decision during the third ODI against Bangladesh.
New Delhi: ICC has suspended Sri Lanka’s top all-rounder Wanindu Hasaranga for the upcoming two-match Test series against Bangladesh for violating the ICC Code of Conduct. The decision came after Hasaranga’s decision to return to Test cricket after retiring from the format last year.
Hasaranga was suspended for showing dissent over an umpire’s decision during the third ODI against Bangladesh here on Monday and it is a major setback for Sri Lanka as they were banking on the experienced Hasaranga to control the hosts’ batters in the longer game format would bother you.
During the third and final ODI of the series against Bangladesh, Hasaranga was found guilty of breaching Article 2.8 of the ICC Code of Conduct for Players and Player Support Personnel, which relates to “showing dissent from an umpire’s decision during a international competition.”
The incident took place in the 37th over of the match when Hasaranga grabbed his cap from one of the umpires and ridiculed the umpire in the match.
Bangladesh won the series 2–1 after winning the match by four wickets.
Hasaranga was given a 50 percent fine and collected three demerit points for his offence. This brought his total number of penalty points in 24 months to eight, the ICC said on Tuesday.
The all-rounder was already on five penalties after picking up three penalties in the third T20I against Afghanistan in Dambulla last month. Following this, he was suspended for two T20Is against Bangladesh.
Now, with the addition of the latest penalty points, he has crossed the threshold of eight penalty points, which have been converted into four suspension points under Article 7.6 of the Code.
The four suspension points amount to a ban on two Tests or four ODIs or T20Is, whichever comes first – Hasaranga will therefore miss the two ICC World Test Championship Tests against Bangladesh.
Sri Lanka ODI skipper Kusal Mendis was also given a 50 percent fine and three demerit points for a Level 2 offense after he “abused the umpires while shaking hands” at the end of the third match.
This violated Article 2.13 of the Code, which covers “Personal abuse of a player, player support staff, referee or match referee during an international match.” This was their first foul for Mendis in 24 months.
Both Hasaranga and Mendis admitted their offenses and accepted the sanctions proposed by Andy Pycroft of the Emirates ICC Elite Panel of Match Referees.