Jadeja suspended for Pallekele Test

Soon after he was adjudged the man of the match for his seven-wicket haul for the match and an unbeaten 70 in India’s first innings, Ravindra Jadeja was suspended from the upcoming Pallekele Test by the International Cricket Council.

The left-arm spinner, the ICC said in a release, received the suspension after his accumulated demerit points reached six within a 24-month period following his latest breach which attracted a 50 per cent fine and three demerit points.

Jadeja had previously fallen foul of the match officials during the Indore Test against New Zealand in October 2016. He had been fined 50 per cent of his fees and three demerit points in that match and with the addition of Saturday’s three demerit points, he reached the threshold of four demerit points. And in pursuant to article 7.6 of the Code, they have now been converted into two suspension points.

The latest incident happened during third day’s play of the second Test which India won by an innings and 53 runs. On the final delivery of the 58th over, Jadeja, after fielding off his own bowling, threw the ball back at Dimuth Karunaratne who had not left his crease. The on-field umpires deemed the throwing “dangerous” in manner as it narrowly missed the batsman.

Thus he was found guilty of breaching article 2.2.8 of the ICC Code of Conduct for Player and Player Support Personnel, which relates to “throwing a ball (or any other item of cricket equipment such as a water bottle) at or near a Player, Player Support Personnel, Umpire, Match Referee or any other third person in an inappropriate and/or dangerous manner during an International Match.”

 “As such, Jadeja has been suspended from his side’s third Test against Sri Lanka, which will be played in Pallekele from 12-16 August. Jadeja admitted the offence and accepted the sanction proposed by match referee Richie Richardson and, as such, there was no need for a formal hearing,” said a statement from ICC.