The International Cricket Council declared on Tuesday that Sri Lankan all-rounder Wanindu Hasaranga would be suspended for the two-Test series against Bangladesh. This comes after Hasaranga, who retired from Test cricket last year, made the decision to rejoin the competition.
Hasaranga was found guilty of violating article 2.8 of the ICC Code of Conduct for Players and Player Support Personnel, which deals with “showing dissent at an Umpire’s decision during an International Match,” during the third ODI of the recently finished series against Bangladesh.
The incident happened in the game’s 37th over when Hasaranga grabbed his cap off an umpire and made fun of the match’s umpiring. Bangladesh won the match by four wickets and went on to win the series 2-1.
Hasaranga was assessed three demerit points and fined 50% of the match cost for his infraction. His 24-month total of demerit points increased to eight as a result. The all-rounder was banished for two Twenty20 Internationals against Bangladesh after he was given three demerit points in the third Twenty20 International against Afghanistan in Dambulla last month, putting him on five demerit points already.
With the most recent demerit points added, he has now over the eight demerit point barrier, which has been converted to four suspension points in accordance with article 7.6 of the Code. Four ODIs, four T20Is, or two Tests are banned, depending on which comes first, for accruing four suspension points. As a result, Hasaranga will be unable to play against Bangladesh in the two ICC World Test Championship matches.
Kusal Mendis, the captain of Sri Lanka, received three demerit points.
As a Level 2 offender, Sri Lanka’s opening batsman for the One-Day International Kusal Mendis also received three demerit points and a 50% match-fee punishment when he “abused the umpires while shaking hands with them” at the conclusion of the third match.
The violation in question was to article 2.13 of the Code, which addresses instances of “personal abuse of a player, player support personnel, umpire, or match referee during an international match.” For Mendis, this was his first offense in a 24-month span.
Hasaranga and Mendis both acknowledged their transgressions and consented to the penalties suggested by Emirates ICC Elite Panel of Match Referees Andy Pycroft.
