DUBAI: The International Cricket Council (ICC) on Monday reprimanded Australian left-handed batsman Travis Head and India’s right-hand 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 reached a magnificent century, hit Siraj for a six.
Siraj responded with a deadly yorker on the next delivery and cleaned up the Australian batsman.
As the left-handed batsman walked back to the dressing room, the furious pacer gave him a fiery farewell, pointing towards the dressing room and gesturing for him to leave.
Head, visibly frustrated, responded with a few words.
As a result, Siraj was fined 20 percent of the match fee for violating article 2.5 of the ICC Code of Conduct for Players and Player Support Personnel, which refers to “the use of language, actions or gestures that belittle or may provoke an aggressive reaction from a batsman after the dismissal.
Additionally, a demerit was added to the right pacemaker’s disciplinary record.
On the other hand, Head received a demerit point for violating article 2.13 of the ICC Code of Conduct for Players and Player Support Personnel, which refers to the “abuse of a player, player support personnel, referee or referee. game during an international match.”
Notably, it was the first offense committed by Mohammed Siraj and Travis Head within a 24-month period.
According to the ICC, Head and Siraj accepted their respective infractions and accepted the sanction proposed by Ranjan Madugalle of the ICC Panel of Elite Games Referees, thus eliminating the need for a formal hearing.
The accusation was made by on-field umpires Chris Gaffaney and Richard Illingworth, alongside third umpire Richard Kettleborough and fourth umpire Phillip Gillespie.
For the unversed, Level 1 violations can result in penalties ranging from an official reprimand to a fine of 50% of a player’s match fee and one or two demerit points.
