The world of cricket recently found itself in the midst of heated discussions as an animated confrontation unfolded between Sri Lankan skipper Wanindu Hasaranga and umpire Lyndon Hanibal during the third and final T20I of the series against Afghanistan at the Rangiri Dambulla International Stadium on February 21. The aftermath of this confrontation has now resulted in Hasaranga facing a two-match suspension.
What led to Wanindu Hasaranga being penalized?
The controversial incident that has led to Hasaranga being penalized unfolded when the Sri Lankan skipper confronted umpire Lyndon during the third T20I to question a decision regarding a high full toss that was not called a no-ball. The animated exchange caught the attention of cricket enthusiasts worldwide, leading to the International Cricket Council (ICC) taking swift action against Hasaranga.
Hasaranga’s misconduct and suspension
Following the incident, the ICC reviewed Hasaranga’s actions and found him in breach of the ICC Code of Conduct. As a result, the Sri Lankan T20I captain was fined 50 percent of his match fee and accumulated three demerit points. Importantly, this latest breach pushed Hasaranga’s total demerit points to five within a 24-month period, triggering an automatic two-match suspension.
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Consequences for Sri Lanka
With the two-match suspension, Hasaranga is set to miss Sri Lanka’s first two T20Is against Bangladesh next month. The absence of their captain will undoubtedly pose a challenge for the Sri Lankan team, impacting their strategy and team dynamics in the upcoming series.
Rahmanullah Gurbaz fined 15% of match fee
In addition to Hasaranga, Afghanistan’s Rahmanullah Gurbaz also faced disciplinary action for breaching the ICC Code of Conduct during the same match. Gurbaz was fined 15 percent of his match fee for changing the grip of his bat on the field of play, despite repeated warnings from match officials not to do so. This marked Gurbaz’s second offence within a 24-month period, resulting in the addition of one demerit point to his record, bringing his cumulative demerit points to two.