By Sri Lanka all-rounder Wanindu Hasaranga has been suspended for the upcoming two-Test series against Bangladesh, the International Cricket Council (ICC) announced on Tuesday. Hasaranga recently decided to come out of retirement from Test cricket, having retired from the format last year.
The suspension follows an incident during the third ODI in the recent series against Bangladesh, where Hasaranga was found guilty of breaching article 2.8 of the ICC Code of Conduct for Players and Player Support Personnel, which pertains to “showing dissent at an Umpire’s decision during an International Match.”
Hasaranga banned for Two-Test
During the 37th over of the match, Hasaranga took his cap from one of the umpires and made disparaging remarks about the umpiring decisions. Bangladesh won the match by four wickets, clinching the series 2-1.
As a result of his actions, Hasaranga received a 50% match-fee fine and accumulated three demerit points, bringing his total to eight demerit points in a 24-month period. He was already on five demerit points after an incident in the third T20I against Afghanistan last month, leading to his suspension for two T20Is against Bangladesh.
The accumulation of demerit points has triggered a ban for Hasaranga, converted into four suspension points under article 7.6 of the Code. This equates to a ban from two Tests or four ODIs or T20Is, whichever comes first. Consequently, Hasaranga will miss the two ICC World Test Championship Tests against Bangladesh.
Sri Lanka ODI skipper Kusal Mendis also received a 50% match-fee fine and three demerit points for a Level 2 offence. He was penalized for “abusing the umpires while shaking hands with them” at the end of the third match, breaching article 2.13 of the Code, which addresses “Personal abuse of a Player, Player Support Personnel, Umpire or Match Referee during an International Match.” This was Mendis’s first offence in a 24-month period.
Both Hasaranga and Mendis admitted their offences and accepted the sanctions proposed by Andy Pycroft of the Emirates ICC Elite Panel of Match Referees.
