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India batter Yashasvi Jaiswal and Sri Lanka pacer Asitha Fernando have each been fined 25 per cent of their match fees and handed one demerit point following their on-field altercation during the opening day of the second Test in Colombo. The International Cricket Council (ICC) confirmed the Level 1 sanctions on Monday, August 24, after both players admitted to breaching Article 2.12 of the ICC Code of Conduct, which deals with inappropriate physical contact between players.
How the Jaiswal-Fernando clash unfolded
The incident occurred during the 17th over of India’s first innings after Fernando dismissed Jaiswal for 45. The Sri Lankan pacer gave the batter an animated send-off, prompting Jaiswal to turn back and exchange words with him. The confrontation quickly escalated as the two players came face-to-face. Fernando moved his head forward while Jaiswal leaned in, resulting in their helmets and heads making contact. Teammates and Sri Lanka captain Dhananjaya de Silva intervened and separated the two players before the situation could escalate further.Jaiswal later addressed the incident on social media, urging critics not to pass judgment without knowing what had been said during the exchange.“If you don’t know what he said, then please don’t make your judgment. If anyone crosses the line, we need to let them know this: India will fight and reply,” Jaiswal posted before the start of play on Day 2.His comments appeared to be in response to a Cricbuzz video on Instagram in which commentator Harsha Bhogle suggested that Jaiswal should have simply walked away after his dismissal.
What India batting coach Sitanshu Kotak said
India batting coach Sitanshu Kotak had earlier acknowledged that the incident may have occurred in the “heat of the moment” but admitted that Jaiswal should not have made physical contact with Fernando.“I think they must have said something to him, and it might have happened in the heat of the moment. Obviously, Jaiswal, I don’t think he should have been so close (to Fernando), but that happens when you are in the heat of the moment,” Kotak said after the opening day’s play.
