Sri Lanka all-rounder Wanindu Hasaranga has been suspended for Bangladesh’s two-Test series against Bangladesh, shortly after announcing his decision to return to Test cricket having retired from the format last year.
During the third ODI in the recently concluded series against Bangladesh, Hasaranga was found guilty of breaching article 2.8 of the ICC Code of Conduct for Players and Player Support Personnel, which relates to “showing dissent at an Umpire’s decision during an International Match.”
The incident occurred in the 37th over of the game when Hasaranga snatched his cap from one of the umpires and ridiculed the umpiring in the match.
Bangladesh took the series 2-1 after winning the contest by four wickets. He received a 50 per cent fine and accumulated three demerit points for his offense. This brought his total demerit points to eight in 24 months.
The all-rounder was already on five demerit points after receiving three demerit points in the third T20I against Afghanistan in Dambulla last month. Following this, he was suspended for two T20Is against Bangladesh.
Now, with the addition of the latest demerit points, he has breached the threshold of eight demerit points, which, pursuant to article 7.6 of the Code, have been converted into four suspension points.
The four suspension points equate to a ban from two Tests or four ODIs or T20Is, whatever comes first – Hasaranga will therefore miss the two ICC World Test Championship Tests against Bangladesh. If Hasaranga had not come out of Test retirement, he might have missed four T20 World Cup matches.
Sri Lanka ODI skipper Kusal Mendis also copped a 50 per cent fine and three demerit points for a Level 2 offence after he “abused the umpires while shaking hands with them” at the end of the third match.
This breached article 2.13 of the Code, which relates to “Personal abuse of a Player, Player Support Personnel, Umpire or Match Referee during an International Match.” This was a first offence for Mendis 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.
