ICC suspends Hasaranga again for breaching Players Code of Conduct

Wanindu Hasaranga

Kusal Mendis

• Kusal Mendis cops 50 percent fine for abuse of umpire

Sri Lanka all-rounder and T20I captain Wasindu Hasaranga and Sri Lanka’s ODI captain Kusal Mendis have both been fined by the ICC for breaching the ICC Code of Conduct and for Personal Abuse.

Hasaranga who recently announced his return to Test cricket after retiring from the game last August has been suspended for the two-Test series against Bangladesh starting at Sylhet on 22 March shortly after he was named in the 17-member Sri Lanka Test squad. Hasaranga retired from Test cricket last August but last week changed his mind and made himself available again for the red ball format.

Hasaranga has been found guilty of breaching article 2.8 of the ICC Code of Conduct for Players and Player Support Personnel which relates to “showing dissent at an Umpire’s decision during an International Match”.

The incident occurred in the 37th over of the game when Hasaranga snatched his cap from one of the umpires and ridiculed the umpiring in the match, after an lbw decision against Rishad Hossain was turned down by the umpire. Rishad later went on to hit Hasaranga for 24 runs in one over (2 sixes, 3 fours) to propel Bangladesh to a series clinching win.

Hasaranga received a 50 percent fine and accumulated three demerit points for his offence, thus bringing his total demerit points to eight in a 24-month period.

Hasaranga already had six demerit points accumulated for past offences having recently been suspended for two matches after a run-in with umpire Lyndon Hannibal in the third T20I against Afghanistan last month. He missed the first two T20I matches of the series against Bangladesh.

Now with the addition of the latest demerit points Hasaranga has breached the threshold of eight demerit points, which, pursuant of article 7.6 of the Code have been converted into four suspension points.

The four suspension points equate to a ban from two Tests or four ODIs or T20Is, whatever comes first. Hasaranga therefore will miss the two Tests against Bangladesh which is part of the ICC World Test Championship.

Sri Lanka’s ODI skipper Kusal Mendis was also taken to task by the ICC and copped 50 percent fine and three demerit points for a Level 2 offence after he “abused the umpires while shaking hands with them” at the end of the third ODI against Bangladesh at Chattogram on Monday.

Mendis’ action breached article 2.13 of the Code, which relates to “Personal abuse of a Player, Player Support Personnel, Umpire or Match Referee during an International Match”. This was Mendis’ first offence in a 24-month period.

Both players admitted their offences and accepted the sanctions imposed by ICC Match Referee Andy Pycroft. 

– (ST)