Share

Sharma and Chandimal punished for misconduct

Colombo - India's Ishant Sharma was on Tuesday suspended by the International Cricket Council for one Test match and Dinesh Chandimal of Sri Lanka banned from a one-day international for misconduct during the final Test in Colombo.

Two other Sri Lankan players, Dhammika Prasad and Lahiru Thirimanne, were fined 50 percent of their undisclosed match fees for similar offences during the match, the ICC said in a statement.

All four players were involved in a heated flare-up during the fourth day's play on Monday, prompting match referee Andy Pycroft to charge the players under the ICC's code of conduct.

Tempers rose in the final session as Sharma and the Sri Lankan fielders had a heated exchange after Prasad bowled three consecutive bouncers to the Indian tailender.

Chandimal nudged Sharma with his shoulder and Thirimanne also joined in the verbal spat forcing umpires Nigel Llong and Rod Tucker to step in to calm down the players.

As Sharma hurried off the field after the Indian innings ended, Prasad sprinted behind him and television pictures showed the two players speaking to each other outside the dressing rooms.

Sharma, who had been fined 65 percent of his match fees for misconduct during the second Test at the P. Sara Oval in Colombo, was penalised again for taunting opener Upul Tharanga after he dismissed him.

The lanky fast bowler will miss India's first Test against South Africa in Mohali from November 5, the ICC said.

Chandimal will sit out the one-day international between Sri Lanka and the West Indies in Colombo on November 1.

"Monday's incidents were not good advertisements for international cricket," Pycroft said.

"These experienced cricketers forgot their fundamental responsibilities of respecting their opponents as well as the umpires, and got involved in incidents which were clearly against the spirit of the game," Pycroft was quoted as saying in the ICC statement.

"Their actions cannot be condoned and must be discouraged."

All four players admitted the offences and accepted the proposed sanctions, the statement added.

Indian captain Virat Kohli said the incidents had benefitted his team because it fired up Sharma in Sri Lanka's second innings.

"An angry fast bowler is a captain's delight," Kohli said after his team's series-clinching 117-run victory at the Sinhalese Sports Club on Tuesday.

"It happened at the right time because we had to bowl after that. I was very happy that he has an aggressive mindset."

We live in a world where facts and fiction get blurred
Who we choose to trust can have a profound impact on our lives. Join thousands of devoted South Africans who look to News24 to bring them news they can trust every day. As we celebrate 25 years, become a News24 subscriber as we strive to keep you informed, inspired and empowered.
Join News24 today
heading
description
username
Show Comments ()
Voting Booth
Should Siya Kolisi keep the captaincy as the Springboks build towards their World Cup title defence in 2027?
Please select an option Oops! Something went wrong, please try again later.
Results
Yes! Siya will only be 36 at the next World Cup. He can make it!
25% - 1273 votes
No! I think the smart thing to do is start again with a younger skipper ...
29% - 1472 votes
I'd keep Siya captain for now, but look to have someone else for 2027.
45% - 2251 votes
Vote
Editorial feedback and complaints

Contact the public editor with feedback for our journalists, complaints, queries or suggestions about articles on News24.

LEARN MORE