DUBAI: The International Cricket Council (ICC) on Monday, reprimanded Australia’s left-handed batter Travis Head and India’s right-arm pacer Mohammed Siraj for their heated argument during the recently-concluded second Test.
The incident occurred in the 82nd over of Australia’s first innings after the 30-year-old, who had cruised to a magnificent century, smashed Siraj for a six.
Siraj responded with a deadly yorker on the next delivery and cleaned up the Australian batter.
As the left-handed batter trudged back to the dressing room, the angry pacer gave him a fiery send-off, pointing to the dressing room and gesturing him to leave.
Head, visibly frustrated, replied with a few words.
As a result, Siraj has been fined 20 per cent of his match fee for breaching article 2.5 of the ICC Code of Conduct 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 batter upon dismissal.”
Furthermore, one demerit has been added to the right-arm pacer’s disciplinary record.
On the other hand, Head was awarded one demerit point for breaching article 2.13 of the ICC Code of Conduct for Players and Player Support Personnel, which relates to the “abuse of a player, player support personnel, umpire or match referee during an international match.”
Notably, it was the first offence by both Mohammed Siraj and Travis Head in a 24-month period.
According to the ICC, Head and Siraj have accepted their respective offences and accepted the sanction proposed by Ranjan Madugalle of the ICC Elite Panel of Match Referees, thus, eliminating the need for a formal hearing.
The charge was levelled by on-field umpires Chris Gaffaney and Richard Illingworth, alongside third umpire Richard Kettleborough and fourth umpire Phillip Gillespie.
For the unversed, Level 1 breaches may result in penalties ranging from an official reprimand to a fine of 50 per cent of a player’s match fee and one or two demerit points.
- Mohammed Siraj
- Travis Head
