NEWS
Follow UsWanindu Hasaranga has been suspended for the two-Test series against Bangladesh after being found guilty of breaching the ICC Code of Conduct during the third One-Day International (ODI) in Chattogram on Monday (March 18), the governing body announced on Tuesday (March 19). This comes after he had reversed his decision to retire from the format. The all-rounder announced his retirement from Tests last year to focus on the white-ball formats.
The incident happened in the 37th over when Hasaranga snatched the cap from the umpire and then made untoward comments regarding the umpire. The all-rounder was fined 50% of his match fee and accumulated three demerit points, which took his tally to eight in a 24-month period.
He has been suspended for 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."
He already had five demerit points to his name after following his actions in the third T20 International (T20I) against Afghanistan in Dambulla last month. As a result, he was banned for the first two T20Is against Bangladesh.
As Hasaranga has accumulated eight demerit points, article 7.6 of the Code states that he should be banned for two Tests, four ODIs, or T20Is, whichever fixtures come first. Hence, Hasaranga will not be part of the Test series against Bangladesh - part of the ICC World Test Championship (WTC) - starting Friday (March 22) in Sylhet.
Hasaranga was set to miss the first three matches for Sunrisers Hyderabad (SRH) in the Indian Premier League (IPL) 2024, starting Friday (March 22), due to his participation in the series, but by the looks of things, he could be available right from the outset for his new franchise.
Moreover, Sri Lanka ODI captain Kusal Mendis too has been fined 50% of his match fee and has been slapped with three demerit points for a Level 2 offence as he "abused the umpires while shaking hands with them" at the end of the third game. It has 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 Mend's first offence in a 24-month period.
