Following two distinct violations of the ICC Code of Conduct during India’s play against Bangladesh in the third match of their ICC Women’s Championship series on Saturday in Dhaka, India captain Harmanpreet Kaur has been banned for her team’s next two international matches and will not be able to lead India in those matches.
After being 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,” Kaur was given a fine equal to fifty percent of her match fee and three demerit points were added to her disciplinary record for a Level 2 offence. In addition, Kaur was given a fine equal to fifty percent of her match fee.
After being found guilty of breaking article 2.7, which pertains to “public criticism in relation to an incident occurring in an international match,” Kaur was also given a fine equal to 25 percent of her match fee for committing a Level 1 offense and receiving a Level 1 penalty.
The first incident took place in the 34th over of India’s innings. It happened when Kaur whacked the wickets with her bat in a show of protest after she was declared to have been caught at slip off the spinner Nahida Akter. The second incident occurred when Kaur voiced her displeasure with the officiating of the match as the awards were being handed out.
As a result of Kaur’s admission that the offenses had been committed and her acceptance of the punishments that had been suggested by Akhtar Ahmed of the Emirates ICC International Panel of Match Referees, a formal hearing was not required.
The charges were evened out by the on-field umpires Tanvir Ahmed and Muhammad Kamruzzaman, as well as the third umpire Moniruzzamman and the fourth umpire Ali Arman.
Infractions at Level 1 have a minimum penalty of an official reprimand and a maximum penalty of 50 percent of a player’s match fee, as well as one or two demerit points. Infractions at Level 2 include a penalty of between 50 and 100 percent of a player’s match fee as well as three or four demerit points. Level 2 infractions carry the harshest penalties.
The four demerit points that Kaur received are equivalent to two suspension points. Kaur has been barred from participating in any of India’s upcoming matches due to the fact that she has accumulated two suspension points, which results in a ban from either one test match, two one-day internationals, or two Twenty20 internationals, depending on which comes first for the player or player support personnel in question.