On the fourth day of the third match of their ICC World Test Championship series against England at Lord’s on Sunday, fast bowler Mohammad Siraj of India was fined 15% of his match fee for violating Level 1 of the ICC Code of Conduct.
The ICC Code of Conduct for Players and Player Support Staff states that Siraj must refrain from “using language, actions, or gestures which disparage or which could provoke an aggressive reaction from a batter upon his/her dismissal during an International Match.”
Siraj’s disciplinary record has also been hit with one demerit point, making it his second offence in a 24-month period. This brings his total number of demerit points in a 24-month period to two.
On December 7, 2024, Siraj was given his previous demerit point during the second Test match against Australia in Adelaide.
The incident on Sunday happened in the sixth over of England’s second innings when Siraj overreacted to the dismissal of opener Ben Duckett by celebrating too close to the player. Duckett went to the pavilion as Siraj raced up to the batter and said “come on” several times while giving him a small shoulder tap. Duckett scored a dozen runs in a ball.
A formal hearing was not necessary because Siraj acknowledged the wrongdoing and agreed to the punishment suggested by Richie Richardson of the Emirates ICC Elite Panel of Match Referees.
The accusation was made by third umpire Ahsan Raza, fourth umpire Graham Lloyd, and on-field umpires Paul Reiffel and Sharfuddoula Ibne Shahid.
Level 1 infractions are punishable by one or two demerit points, a minimum of an official reprimand, and a maximum of 50% of the player’s match fee.
A pivotal fifth day of the Lord’s Test is scheduled to determine the outcome of the series, as Anderson and Tendulkar are now at parity.
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