Ishant Sharma fined for send-offs

Ishant Sharma has been penalised for his antics after dismissing Lahiru Thirimanne and Dinesh Chandimal - AFP

India fast bowler Ishant Sharma has been fined 65% of his match fees for breaching Level 1 of the ICC Code of Conduct.

Ishant had given send-offs to Lahiru Thirimanne and Dinesh Chandimal in the Colombo Test, which is against Article 2.1.7 relating to “using language, actions or gestures which disparage or which could provoke an aggressive reaction from a batsman upon his/her dismissal during an International Match.”

The on-field umpires Bruce Oxenford and Rod Tucker brought the charges to match referee Andy Pycroft, who ruled that Ishant would lose 15% of his match fees for the Thirimanne send-off and a further 50% for the Chandimal one.

An ICC press release explained that Pycroft chose a more severe punishment for the second send-off because “circumstances surrounding the second incident, including the more aggressive nature of the conduct, warranted a higher sanction than the first of the two offences.”

If Ishant commits a similar breach a third time in the next 12 months, he will face will face a sanction of between two and eight suspension points.

Lahiru Thirimanne fined for showing dissent

Sri Lankan batsman Lahiru Thirimanne was fined 30 percent of his match fee for breaching the International Cricket Council (ICC) Code of Conduct during the third day’s play of the second Test against India at the P Sara Oval on Saturday.

“Thirimanne was found to have breached Article 2.1.5 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 ICC said in a statement. The incident happened in the 85th over of Sri Lanka’s first innings when the left-handed batsman stood his ground for a prolonged period of time before leaving the crease while shaking his head after being adjudged caught behind by Wriddhiman Saha off pacer Ishant Sharma.

Following the draw of stumps on the third day’s play, Thirimanne admitted the offence and accepted the sanction proposed by match referee Andy Pycroft. The charge was laid by on-field umpires Bruce Oxenford and Rod Tucker and third umpire Ruchira Palliyaguruge.