Thisara Perera and Mitchell Starc face disciplinary actions

Sri Lanka all-rounder Thisara Perera and Australia bowling spearhead Mitchell Starc have been found to have breached the ICC Code of Conduct in separate incidents during the 2nd ODI in Colombo on Wednesday. Perera has been fined 15 per cent of his match fee while Mitchell Starc of Australia has received an official reprimand for breaching.

Both players were reprimanded on disciplinary grounds. Perera was found to have breached Article 2.1.7 of the ICC Code of Conduct for Players and Player Support Personnel, which relates to “using language, actions or gestures which disparage or which could provoke an aggressive reaction from a batsman”, whereas  Starc was found guilty of violating Article 2.1.1, which deals with “conduct that is contrary to the spirit of the game.”

Starc, the mercurial left-arm fast bowler, came under the scanner for throwing the ball in the direction of Dinesh Chandimal after completing his over in the first innings. Chandimal was inside the crease at the striker’s end and did not attempt to run. Perera, on the other hand, was charged for using provocative language and action after dismissing David Warner during the 2nd innings when Australia was chasing Sri Lanka’s total of 288.

The charges had been laid by on-field umpires Michael Gough and Raveendra Wimalasiri, third umpire Aleem Dar and fourth umpire Ranmore Martinesz after the conclusion of the match.

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Both the players admitted the offences and accepted the sanctions proposed by Javagal Srinath of the Emirates Elite Panel of ICC Match Referees. All Level 1 breaches carry a minimum penalty of a reprimand up to a fine equivalent to 50 percent of a player’s match fee.