DUBAI: The International Cricket Council (ICC) on Tuesday, reprimanded West Indies’ pacer Alzarri Joseph for breaching the ICC Code of Conduct during the first ODI against Bangladesh in St. Kitts and Nevis on Sunday.
According to the apex cricketing body, Joseph breached Article 2.3 of the ICC Code of Conduct for Players and Player Support Personnel, which relates to “the use of an audible obscenity.”
The incident occurred before the commencement of the ODI series opener between West Indies and Bangladesh when Joseph used offensive and abusive language with the fourth umpire after the latter refrained the pacer from stepping onto the pitch with his spikes on.
The right-arm pacer, as a result, has been fined 25 per cent of his match fee, while one demerit point has also been added to his disciplinary record.
Although it was his first offence in a 24-month period as per the ICC’s Code of Conduct but the pacer was banned by Cricket West Indies (CWI) last month for storming off the field during an international after a heated exchange with captain Shai Hope.
The incident occurred in the final ODI of the three-match series between West Indies and England as Joseph was unhappy with the field placement and was also seen arguing with the captain.
He still managed to dismiss Jordan Cox on the fourth delivery of the eventful over but did not celebrate with his teammates and instead returned to his mark.
After concluding the over, Joseph left the field unannounced and went to the dressing room, forcing the home side to start the fifth over with just 10 players in the middle.
Joseph, however, returned to the field at the start of the sixth over but did not bowl until the 12th. He then bowled two more overs before leaving the field again after two misfields off his bowling. He later returned to bowl five more overs, two in the middle and three at the backend.
The right-arm pacer registered match figures of 45/2 in his quota of 10 overs.
"Alzarri's behavior did not align with the core values that Cricket West Indies upholds," Miles Bascombe, CWI Director of Cricket, said.
“Such conduct cannot be overlooked, and we have taken decisive action to ensure the gravity of the situation is fully acknowledged."
