Face-Off In Pink Ball Test: ICC Fines Md Siraj, Sanctions Travis Head

New Delhi: Indian pacer Mohammed Siraj and Australian batter Travis Head have been penalised for their on-field face-off on the second day of the pink ball Test match at the Adelaide Oval.

Siraj has been penalised 20% of his match fee after being found guilty of breaching article 2.5 of the International Cricket Council’s (ICC) Code of Conduct for Players and Player Support Personnel which relates to “using language, actions or gestures which disparage or which could provoke an aggressive reaction from a batter upon dismissal.”

Head’s punishment was less severe as he didn’t initiate the ugly incident. The left-handed batter was sanctioned for breaching Article 2.13 of the players’ Code of Conduct, which relates to the “abuse of a player, player support personnel, umpire or match referee during an international match.”

Both cricketers received one demerit point each on their disciplinary records, marking their first offence in the last 24 months.

What Exactly Happened

Head, who almost singlehandedly took the game away from India with a savage assault, was going great guns and hit Siraj for a 4 and 6 in the 82nd over. The fast bowler had his revenge as he yorked Head with a beauty in the same over. Pumped up, Siraj gave Head a fiery send-off.

Head reacted, and words were exchanged, which were obviously not pleasant.

Cricket pundits like Sunil Gavaskar and Krishnamachari Srikkanth blasted Siraj for the unnecessary send-off to Head after had played a brilliant knock.

Though Head said at the end of the day’s play that had told Siraj ‘well bowled’, the Indian claimed his rival was ‘lying’.

After Australia completed a thumping 10-wicket win on Sunday, Head said it was a “misunderstanding” and had sorted things out with Siraj.

Match Referee Ranjan Madugalle summoned the two players, and heard their versions before announcing the sanctions. Siraj and Head admitted their respective offences and accepted the sanctions proposed by Madugalle.