Indian pacer Mohammed Siraj has been fined 15 per cent of his match fee and docked a demerit point for his aggressive send-off to England batter Ben Duckett during the Lord’s Test.
An Intense Send-Off
The incident occurred during England’s second innings when Siraj dismissed Ben Duckett for just 12 runs, securing India’s first wicket. Moments before the dismissal, Duckett had hit Siraj for a boundary, adding to the tension.
After getting Duckett to hit the ball into Jasprit Bumrah’s hands, Siraj’s celebration was notably aggressive. He was seen brushing shoulders with Duckett as the English batter walked back to the pavilion. Siraj also let out loud roars and stared intently at Duckett in anger.
The Disciplinary Action
Following the match, the International Cricket Council (ICC) imposed a fine of 15 per cent of Siraj’s match fee. Additionally, he was handed one demerit point, his second within a 24-month period.
The ICC statement confirmed that Siraj was found guilty of breaching Article 2.5 of the ICC Code of Conduct for Players and Player Support Personnel. This specific article deals with “using language, actions or gestures which disparage or which could provoke an aggressive reaction from a batter upon his/her dismissal during an International Match.”
The statement further elaborated on the incident, noting, “After the dismissal, Siraj celebrated close to the batter in his follow-through and made contact as Duckett began his walk back to the Lord’s long room.”
Demerit Points: What It Means
Siraj’s accumulation of a second demerit point puts him on a watch list. Under ICC regulations, if a player accumulates four or more demerit points within a 24-month period, these points are converted into suspension points. This can lead to a ban from international matches.
Essentially, Siraj is now walking a fine line. Any further breaches of the code of conduct that result in demerit points could see him facing a suspension from future games, making this a crucial period for the pacer to maintain discipline.
High Stakes at Lord’s
The Lord’s Test itself has been a fiercely contested battle, with both teams showing heightened emotions. The match is part of a five-game series for the Anderson-Tendulkar Trophy, and both sides are desperate to secure a victory to take a crucial 2-1 lead.
At the time of the incident, the game was finely poised, adding to the intensity. India needed 135 more runs to win, while England required six wickets to claim the victory. Such high-pressure situations often lead to tempers flaring among players.
Expert Reaction
The decision to fine Siraj sparked debate, with former England cricketer Stuart Broad weighing in on social media platform X. Broad expressed his disbelief, writing, “Find this ridiculous. Siraj (fined) 15% for aggressive celebration. Gill swears live on tv & carries on and what? It’s either both or neither. Players aren’t and shouldn’t be robots but consistency is key.”
- Mohammed Siraj was fined 15% of his match fee for an aggressive send-off to Ben Duckett.
- He received one demerit point, bringing his total to two in 24 months.
- The fine was for breaching ICC Code of Conduct Article 2.5, which prohibits actions that could provoke an aggressive reaction.
- Accumulating four demerit points within 24 months can lead to a player suspension.
This incident highlights the fine line players walk between competitive spirit and adherence to the sport’s conduct rules in high-stakes matches.
