Sri Lankan leg-spinner Wanindu Hasaranga suspended for 2 tests by ICC right after coming out of test retirement

Wanindu Hasaranga recently came out of test retirement to be included in squad for Bangladesh tests.

Sri Lankan Leg-spinner Wanindu Hasaranga has been suspended for Sri Lanka’s upcoming two Tests against Bangladesh as his accumulated demerit points reached eight within a 24-month period following a Level 2 offence for which he received a 50 percent fine and three demerit points.

During the third ODI against Bangladesh in Chattogram on Monday, 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.”

Hasaranga was already on five demerit points after receiving three demerit points in the third T20I against Afghanistan in Dambulla last month, following which he was suspended for two T20Is against Bangladesh. With the addition of the latest demerit points, he has reached the threshold of eight demerit points, which pursuant to article 7.6 of the Code, have been converted into four suspension points.

As four suspension points equate to a ban from two Tests or four ODIs or T20Is, whatever comes first for the player or player support personnel, Hasaranga will miss the two-match ICC World Test Championship series in Bangladesh.

Monday’s incident occurred at the end of the 37th over of Bangladesh’s innings, when Hasaranga snatched his cap from one of the umpires and ridiculed the umpiring in the match.

Sri Lanka captain Kusal Mendis has also been fined 50 per cent of his match for a Level 2 offence. He was found guilty of breaching 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.”

In addition to this, three demerit points have been added to the disciplinary record of Mendis, for whom it was the first offence in a 24-month period.

Mendis abused the umpires while shaking hands with them at the end of the match.

Both Hasaranga and Mendis admitted their offences and accepted the sanctions proposed by Andy Pycroft of the Emirates ICC Elite Panel of Match Referees and, as such, there was no need for formal hearings.

On-field umpires Sharfuddoula Saikat and Tanvir Ahmed, third umpire Adrian Holdstock and fourth umpire Richard Kettleborough leveled the charges.

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