DUBAI: Sri Lanka’s Wanindu Hasaranga’s return to Test cricket has been hit by a roadblock as the all-rounder was slapped by the International Cricket Council (ICC) with a two-match ban.
Consequently, Hasaranga will miss the two-match Test series against Bangladesh, scheduled to commence on March 22.
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” during the third ODI of the recently-concluded series against Bangladesh.
The incident occurred in the 37th over of Bangladesh’s innings when Wanindu Hasaranga snatched his cap from one of the umpires and ridiculed the umpiring in the match.
He received a 50 per cent fine and accumulated three demerit points for his offence. This brought his total demerit points to eight in a 24-month period.
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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.
Remember, the star all-rounder on Tuesday, came out of Test retirement and was subsequently named in the Sri Lanka squad for the Test series against Bangladesh.
Wanindu Hasaranga announced to hang up his boots from Test cricket last year after representing Sri Lanka in four Tests.
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