Sri Lanka Reprimanded After 2nd T20I Loss vs Australia

Sri Lanka have been fined 20 percent of their match fee for maintaining a slow over-rate against Australia in the second T20I held in Sydney, said the International Cricket Council (ICC) on Monday. In the second T20I, the match went to Super Over, where Josh Hazlewood eventually took Australia to victory.

"David Boon of the Emirates ICC Elite Panel of Match Referees imposed the sanction after Sri Lanka were found to be one over short of the target after time allowances were taken into consideration. In accordance with Article 2.22 of the ICC Code of Conduct for Players and Player Support Personnel, which relates to minimum over-rate offences, players are fined 20 percent of their match fees for every over their side fails to bowl in the allotted time," said the ICC in a statement.

ICC further reprimanded Sri Lanka batter Pathum Nissanka for 'using audible obscenity' during the match. "In addition, batter Pathum Nissanka of Sri Lanka was also given a warning after being found to have breached Article 2.3 of the ICC code, which relates to 'use of an audible obscenity during an International Match'," said the ICC.

Due to this, one demerit point has been added to Nissanka's disciplinary record. The incident occurred when Nissanka missed a ball whilst batting and reacted using inappropriate language which was clearly audible on the stump microphone and on the field of play.

Nissanka and captain Dasun Shanaka both pleaded guilty to their respective offences and accepted the proposed sanctions, so there was no need for a formal hearing. Umpires Donovan Koch, Rod Tucker, Shawn Craig, and Gerard Abood leveled the charge.

Level 1 breaches carry a minimum penalty of an official reprimand, a maximum penalty of a fine of 50 percent of a player's match fee, and one or two demerit points. Sri Lanka, currently 2-0 behind in the five-match T20I series, will try to make a comeback through the third match on Tuesday in Canberra.