DUBAI: The International Cricket Council (ICC) on Sunday, imposed a two-match ban on Sri Lanka’s T20I captain Wanindu Hasaranga over a strong criticism against umpire Lyndon Hannibal.
“Hasaranga was found guilty of breaching article 2.13 of the ICC Code of Conduct for Players and Player Support Personnel, which relates to ‘Personal abuse of a Player, Player Support Personnel, Umpire or Match Referee during an International Match’,” the ICC said in a statement.
“Hasaranga’s accumulation of five demerit points (he got three for this infraction) results in a conversion to two suspension points. This means he will either get a ban for one Test match or two ODIs or T20Is, whichever comes first, for the player or player support personnel.”
The Sri Lankan skipper was also fined 50 per cent of his match fees and will miss his side’s first two T20Is against Bangladesh next month.
The incident occurred in the final T20I of the three-match series between hosts Sri Lanka and Afghanistan when umpire Hannibal did not rule Wafadar Momand’s high full toss to Kamindu Mendis as a no-ball.
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Mendis shuffled down the pitch but the delivery would have gone above the waist height of the batter had he been standing at the popping crease.
The batter asked the umpire to check the no-ball, however, according to the ICC playing conditions a player can only ask the umpire to review a decision in case of a dismissal.
A dot and wide ball followed the last-ball six from Mendis, which was not enough as they required 10 to win.
Following Sri Lanka’s defeat, their captain Wanindu Hasaranga did not mince his words and ruthlessly criticized the umpire over the debated decision.
“That kind of thing shouldn’t happen in an international match,” said Hasaranga.
“If it had been close [to waist height], that’s not a problem. But a ball that’s going so high… it would have hit the batsman’s head if it had gone a little higher.
“If you can’t see that, that umpire isn’t suited to international cricket. It would be much better if he did another job.”
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