India fast bowler Harshit Rana has been reprimanded for breaching Level 1 of the ICC Code of Conduct during the first ODI against South Africa in Ranchi on Sunday.
Rana was found to have breached Article 2.5 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 batter upon his/her dismissal during an International Match.”
In addition to this, one demerit point has been added to Rana’s disciplinary record, for whom it was the first offence in a 24-month period.
The incident occurred in the 22nd over of South Africa’s innings, when Rana, after dismissing Dewald Brevis, gestured in the direction of the dressing room, which could have provoked an aggressive response from the batter.
Rana admitted the offence and accepted the sanction proposed by Richie Richardson of the Emirates ICC Elite Panel of Match Referees, so there was no need for a formal hearing.
On-field umpires Jayaraman Madanagopal and Sam Nogajski, third umpire Rod Tucker and fourth umpire Rohan Pandit levelled the charge.
Level 1 breaches carry a minimum penalty of an official reprimand, a maximum penalty of 50 per cent of a player’s match fee, and one or two demerit points.