Mashrafe fined 20% match fee after ICC Code breach

Mashrafe fined 20% match fee after ICC Code breach

Bangladesh’s Mashrafe bin Mortaza gestures during their tri-series final against Sri Lanka in Mirpur SaturdayDHAKA TRIBUNE/Md Manik

The occasion was the second Mashrafe bin Mortaza has been sanctioned since the introduction of the revised Code in September 2016

Bangladesh captain Mashrafe bin Mortaza has been fined 20% of his match fee and a demerit point has been added to his name after he was found guilty of breaching the ICC Code of Conduct during their grand finale against Sri Lanka in the tri-nation ODI series at Mirpur Sher-e-Bangla National Cricket Stadium in Dhaka Saturday.

On the other hand, Sri Lanka opener Danushka Gunathilaka was given an official reprimand for breaching Level 1 of the ICC Code.

Both the players were found guilty of breaching Article 2.1.7 of the ICC Code for Players and Player Support Personnel which relates 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 occasion was the second Mashrafe has been sanctioned since the introduction of the revised Code in September 2016. The veteran Bangladesh pacer received one demerit point for breaching Article 2.1.7 in the ODI series against England on October 10, 2016. As such, he now has two demerit points against his name.

The incident involving Mashrafe happened in the sixth over of Sri Lanka’s innings when the captain ran close to Kusal Mendis after he fell to Mehedi Hasan Miraz while yelling loudly and looking directly at the opener in a manner that could have provoked an aggressive reaction.

The incident involving Gunathilaka happened in the sixth over of Bangladesh’s innings when, following the dismissal of Tamim Iqbal, he yelled loudly at the departing batsman which prompted the opener to react by turning to face him.

Both Mashrafe and Gunthilaka admitted the offences and accepted the sanctions proposed by the Emirates Elite Panel of ICC match referee David Boon. There was no need therefore for a formal hearing.

The charges were levelled by on-field umpires Chettithody Shamshuddin and Sharfuddoula, third umpire Bruce Oxenford and fourth umpire Anisur Rahman.

Level 1 breaches carry a minimum penalty of an official reprimand, a maximum penalty of 50% of a player’s match fee, and one or two demerit points.

Source: Dhaka Tribune.