Sri Lankan opener Pathum Nissanka was warned and reprimanded for using audible obscenity during a T20I match where Australia got the better of Danus Shanaka-led side in a thrilling super over. Sri Lanka was also fined 20 per cent of their match fee for maintaining a slow over-rate in the match.
Sri Lankan batter Nissanka was given a warning and one demerit point has been added to his disciplinary record after he was found to have breached Article 2.3 of the ICC code, which relates to "use of an audible obscenity during an International Match".
The incident occurred when Nissanka missed a ball while batting and reacted by using inappropriate language which was clearly audible on the stump microphone and on the field of play.
Captain Dasun Shanaka and Pathum Nissanka both pleaded guilty to their respective offences and accepted the proposed sanctions, so there was no need for a formal hearing.
Umpires Donovan Koch, Rod Tucker, Shawn Craig, and Gerard Abood levelled the charge.
Level 1 breaches carry a minimum penalty of an official reprimand, a fine of 50 per cent of a player's match fee, and one or two demerit points.
Australia registered a thrilling win in the Super Over after being tied with Sri Lanka at the end of the stipulated 20 overs each for both sides in the second T20I of the five-match series at the Sydney Cricket Ground (SCG).
Nissanka had slammed a 53-ball 73 but couldn't stop Australia from notching up a win via super over in the match.
Earlier, Australia posted 164 for 6 and were cruising to victory until powerful hitting by Nissanka and captain Dasun Shanaka (34 from 19 balls) kept the touring side in the game and they finished level on 164 for 8. In the tie-breaking Super Over, Australia's Marcus Stoinis and Glenn Maxwell easily chased down the five-run target set by Sri Lanka to put their side 2-0 up in the five-match series.
Josh Hazlewood was the pick of Australia's bowlers, taking 3/22 in addition to his miserly Super Over, capping a brilliant weekend for the 31-year-old after he was picked by Royal Challengers Bangalore (RCB) in IPL 2022 mega auction for Rs. 7.75 crores.
