Sri Lanka's T20I skipper Wanindu Hasaranga was handed a two-match suspension and a 50% match fee fine following his on-field outburst towards an umpire during the third T20I clash against Afghanistan on February 21 in Dambulla, confirmed the International Cricket Council (ICC).
The incident unfolded when umpire Lyndon Hannibal opted not to signal a high full-toss from Wafadar Momand to Kamindu Mendis as a no-ball. Occurring with Sri Lanka needing 11 runs from three balls, the controversy ensued, ultimately resulting in a three-run defeat for Sri Lanka.
“Hasaranga was found guilty of breaching article 2.13 of the ICC Code of Conduct for Players and Player Support Personnel, which relates to ‘Personal abuse of a Player, Player Support Personnel, Umpire or Match Referee during an International Match’,” the ICC released a statement.
Hasaranga expressed his disappointment at the decision saying that such incidents shouldn't be taking place in international cricket.
“That kind of thing shouldn’t happen in an international match. If it had been close, that’s not a problem. But a ball that’s going so high… it would have hit the batsman’s head if it had gone a little higher," Hasaranga said.
“If you can’t see that, that umpire isn’t suited to international cricket. It would be much better if he did another job.”
Hasaranga's penalty sees him accumulating five demerit points, three of which stem from this incident, leading to his suspension from either a Test, two ODIs, or T20Is, whichever comes first. Consequently, Sri Lanka will compete without Hasaranga in the upcoming first two T20Is against Bangladesh in March.
Furthermore, Afghanistan's wicketkeeper-batsman, Rahmanullah Gurbaz, received a 15% match fee fine and a demerit point for "disobeying an umpire's instruction during an international match."
The ICC cited Gurbaz for "adjusting the grip of his bat on the field despite repeated warnings against doing so," bringing his total demerit points to two.
- Wanindu Hasaranga
