Jaiswal, Fernando Sanctioned By ICC For On-Field Incident During Second Test

Colombo: Indian opener Yashasvi Jaiswal and Sri Lankan bowler Asitha Fernando have been sanctioned by the ICC following their on-field incident on the opening day of the second Test between India and Sri Lanka, an ongoing ICC World Test Championship fixture in Colombo.

According to the ICC website, both players were found guilty of violating Article 2.12 of the ICC Code of Conduct for Players and Player Support Personnel, which relates to "inappropriate physical contact with a Player, Player Support Personnel, Umpire, Match Referee or any other person (including a spectator during an International Match)."

As a consequence, Jaiswal and Fernando were each fined 25 per cent of their match fees and received one demerit point. Neither player had committed any previous offence in the 24 months preceding the incident.

The incident took place during the 17th over of India's innings after Fernando dismissed Jaiswal. The Indian batter approached the Sri Lankan pacer and the two exchanged words before Fernando moved his head towards Jaiswal. Jaiswal then leaned forward, resulting in the pair making head-to-head contact.

Both players admitted to the breaches and accepted the sanctions proposed by Andy Pycroft of the Emirates ICC Elite Panel of Match Referees, avoiding the need for formal hearings.

Coming to the Colombo Test, India strengthened their position in the match, reaching 475/8 before rain forced an early Tea on Day 2. Dhruv Jurel remained unbeaten on 95, five runs short of his maiden Test century, after adding 36 runs in the second session. India lost Rishabh Pant for 69 off the first ball after lunch, while Manav Suthar was later dismissed for 18. Earlier, Pant and Jurel had shared a crucial 112-run partnership, while Devdutt Padikkal's 117 and Shubman Gill's 50 helped India establish a strong position on Day 1.