Nepal’s Arjun Kumal and Afghanistan’s Hassan Eisakhil have been reprimanded for breaching the ICC Code of Conduct during their matches at the ICC U19 Men’s Cricket World Cup on 31 January.
In the Nepal v Bangladesh fixture, Kumal was found to have breached Article 2.12 of the ICC Code of Conduct for Players and Player Support Personnel, which relates to “Inappropriate physical contact with a Player, Player Support Personnel, Umpire, Match Referee or any other person (including a spectator) during an International Match.”
Kumal’s conduct constitutes a Level 2 offence, resulting in one suspension point. In addition to this, three demerit points have been added to his disciplinary record, for whom it was the first offence in a 24-month period.
The incident occurred during the sixth over of Nepal’s innings, when Kumal ran into and elbowed Bangladesh bowler Maruf Mridha while completing a run between the wicket.
Kumal admitted the offence and accepted the sanction proposed by Graeme Labrooy of the Emirates International Panel of ICC Match Referees and, as such, there was no need for a formal hearing.
On-field umpires Rashid Riaz Waqar, Faisal Khan Afridi and TV umpire Allahudien Palekar levelled the charge.
Elsewhere, in the USA v Afghanistan fixture, Afghanistan opener Eisakhil was found to have breached Article 2.8 of the ICC Code of Conduct for Players and Player Support Personnel, relating to “Showing dissent at an Umpire’s decision during an International Match.”
As a result of this Level 1 offence, Eisakhil was reprimanded with one demerit point added to his disciplinary record. The offence was also his first in a 24-month period.
The incident occurred following his dismissal in the first over, when Eisakhil was given out caught behind. Eisakhil reacted by gesturing to the match official, walking down the wicket, dropping his bat in close proximity to the on-field umpire and excessively delaying leaving the field of play.
Eisakhil admitted the offence and accepted the sanction proposed by Wayne Noon of the Emirates International Panel of ICC Match Referees and, as such, there was no need for a formal hearing.
On-field umpires Bongani Jele, Patrick Gustard and TV umpire K.N. Ananthapadmanabhan levelled the charge.
Level 1 breaches carry a minimum penalty of an official reprimand, a maximum penalty of 50 per cent of a player’s match fee, and one or two demerit points. Level 2 breaches carry a maximum penalty of between 50 to 100 per cent of a player’s match fee, three or four demerit points and up to two suspension points.
Metal Lady
Abbas Ali Baig was the first Indian cricketer to be kissed during a Test match – When Abbas Ali Baig reached a half-century in the third Test match against Australia at the Brabourne Stadium in 1960, a pretty young girl ran all the way from the North Stand to greet the batsman. She kissed Baig on his cheek.
Kevlar Wanted
Sport Trivia: At the 1992 Olympics held in Barcelona, Ghana took a bronze medal in which team event? Answer: Soccer. Ghana topped their group (D) during the preliminary rounds, when they beat Australia 3-1, and drew 0-0 with Denmark and 1-1 with Mexico. They then beat Australia again 1-0 in the playoff to win the bronze medal.