Windies vs India: Navdeep Saini warned for breaching ICC’s Code of Conduct

India’s Navdeep Saini has received an official warning for breaching Level One of the ICC Code of Conduct during India’s first T20I game against the West Indies in Florida. Saini was found to have breached Article 2.5 of the ICC Code of Conduct for Players and Player Support Personnel, which relates to using actions or gestures which could provoke an aggressive reaction from a batter upon their dismissal.

He has also been handed one demerit point. The incident occurred during the 4th over of the West Indies’ innings when Saini took the wicket of Nicholas Pooran. The player admitted the offence and accepted the sanction proposed by match referee Jeff Crowe of the Emirates Elite Panel of ICC Match Referees and, as such, there was no need for a formal hearing.

On-field umpires Nigel Duguid and Gregory Braithwaite, third umpire Leslie Reifer and fourth official Patrick Gustard levelled the charges.

Navdeep Saini delivers in the series opener

As far as the game is concerned, Saini didn’t flatter to deceive by any stretch of the imagination. To start with, Nicholas Pooran smacked him down the ground for a colossal over-boundary in his very first over. But Saini came back strongly and picked him up. Pooran went for a rash stroke, which didn’t come off properly. In the very next ball, he rattled Shimron Hetmyer to make it a dream debut.

Hetmyer got out for a golden duck. Saini was entrusted to bowl the final over with Kieron Pollard, batting on 49, at the crease. The speedster dismissed Pollard and also churned out a wicket maiden in the 20th over. He finished with three wickets, giving away only 17 runs. The stupendous spell of bowling earned him the Player of the Match award, something which didn’t spring a surprise.

After his good show, Gautam Gambhir, the former Indian cricketer, also lauded him. Gambhir has supported Saini over quite some time now. In the second T20I in Florida itself, Saini didn’t have much to cheer for though as he gave away 27 runs in his three overs. India’s final T20I is on August 3 in Guyana and Saini would be looking to turn up with a decent performance in the dead rubber.