Cricket-Jadeja fined 25% of match fee for applying cream without umpires' permission

ICC Holdings

11/02/2023 09:33

NAGPUR, India, Feb 11 (Reuters) - Ravindra Jadeja was
fined 25% of his match fee on Saturday for breaching the ICC's
code of conduct in India's first test win over Australia after
he was seen applying a soothing cream to his finger without
seeking permission from the on-field umpires.
    The ICC said in a statement that in deciding to sanction
Jadeja with the Level 1 breach, the match referee was satisfied
that the cream was applied to the finger purely for medical
purpose. 
    It added the cream was not applied as an artificial
substance to the ball and consequently it did not change the
condition of the ball.
    "Ravindra Jadeja was found to have breached Article 2.20 of
the ICC Code of Conduct for Players and Player Support
Personnel, which relates to displaying conduct that is contrary
to the spirit of the game," the ICC said in a statement.
    "In addition to this, one demerit point has been added to
Jadeja's disciplinary record. This was his first offence in a
24-month period."
    The incident took place during the 46th over of Australia's
first innings on Thursday when Jadeja took a substance from
Mohammed Siraj's palm and appeared to rub it onto the index
finger of his left hand. 
    The ICC said India's team management had explained that
Jadeja was applying the cream to a swelling on the index finger
of his bowling hand. 
    "This was done without asking for permission from the
on-field umpires," the statement said. "Jadeja admitted the
offence and accepted the sanction proposed ..., so there was no
need for a formal hearing."
    India won the first test in Nagpur by an innings and 132
runs inside three days, taking a 1-0 lead in the four-test
series. The second test will be held in New Delhi from Feb. 17.
 (Reporting by Manasi Pathak in Bengaluru
Editing by Mark Potter)
 ((manasi.pathak@thomsonreuters.com;))