Wanindu Hasaranga, an all-rounder, could be available for Sunrisers Hyderabad’s first few games in the Indian Premier League (IPL 2024) after the ICC suspended him from the next two-Test series against Bangladesh, despite coming out of retirement on Tuesday.
Hasaranga, who retired from Tests in August last year, was chosen to Sri Lanka’s 17-man team for the two-Test series against Bangladesh, which begins on Friday.
However, the ICC notified that the 26-year-old had ‘breached the threshold of eight demerit points, which, pursuant to article 7.6 of the Code, have been converted into four suspension points’ in his most recent violation during the third ODI.
“Hasaranga was found guilty of breaching article 2.8 of the ICC Code of Conduct for Players and Player Support Personnel, which relates to ‘showing dissent at an Umpire’s decision during an International Match’,” the ICC said on its website.
The incident occurred in the 37th over, when the right-arm spinner “snatched his cap” from one of the on-field umpires and “ridiculed” the umpiring in the match, according to the ICC.
“He received a 50 per cent fine and accumulated three demerit points for his offence. This brought his total demerit points to eight in a 24-month period,” the ICC said.
Hasaranga had already received five demerit points, three of which were penalised in the third T20I against Afghanistan at Dambulla last month. He was also suspended for two Twenty20 Internationals against Bangladesh.
“Now, with the addition of the latest demerit points, he has breached the threshold of eight demerit points, which, pursuant to article 7.6 of the Code, have been converted into four suspension points,” the ICC said.
“The four suspension points equate to a ban from two Tests or four ODIs or T20Is, whatever comes first — Hasaranga will therefore miss the two ICC World Test Championship Tests against Bangladesh,” the governing body added.
Meanwhile, ICC also handed a 50 per cent match fee fine and three demerit points on Sri Lanka captain Kusal Mendis for “abusing the umpires while shaking hands with them”.
“This breached article 2.13 of the Code, which relates to ‘Personal abuse of a Player, Player Support Personnel, Umpire or Match Referee during an International Match’.” This was a first offence for Mendis in a 24-month period,” the ICC said.
Both players admitted their crimes and accepted the penalties imposed by Andy Pycroft.
The first Test will be held in Sylhet from March 22 to 26, with the second tie scheduled for March 30 to April 3 in Chattogram.
Hasaranga was roped in by SRH at his base price of Rs 1.5 crore in IPL 2024.
