The International Cricket Council (ICC) today announced that Sri Lankan bowler Lahiru Kumara and Bangladeshi batter Liton Das Kumar have been fined 25% and 15% of their match fees respectively over the heated exchange of words between them during yesterday’s T20 World Cup match.

In the recently concluded Group B, Super 12 game of the ICC Men’s T20 World Cup 2021 between Sri Lanka and Bangladesh on Sunday in Sharjah, Lahiru Kumara and Liton Das Kumar were both fined for breaching level 1 of the ICC Code of Conduct for Players and Player Support Personnel, it said.

Kumara was found guilty of breaching 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.”

Das was found guilty of breaching Article 2.20 of the ICC Code of Conduct for Players and Player Support Personnel, which relates to “Conduct that is contrary to the spirit of the game’.

The incident occurred in the fifth over after the dismissal of batter Litton Kumar Das in the Bangladesh innings.

After he dismissed the batter Das, Lahiru Kumara walked towards him using actions and words which provoked an aggressive reaction from the batter, the ICC said.

Having been provoked by the bowler Kumara, Das reacted aggressively and in a manner which was contrary to the spirit of cricket.

Kumara was fined 25% of his match fee and received 1 demerit point.

Das was fined 15% of his match fee and received 1 demerit point.

Javagal Srinath of the Emirates ICC Elite Panel of Match Referees imposed the sanctions, which were ratified by the ICC Cricket Operations department as per the COVID-19 interim playing regulations. 

Kumara and Das both pleaded guilty to the offences and accepted the proposed sanctions, so there was no need for a formal hearing, the statement said.

The charges were levelled by on-field umpires Joel Wilson and Adrian Holdstock, 3rd umpire Michael Gough and 4th umpire Rod Tucker.

Level 1 breaches carry a minimum penalty of an official reprimand, a maximum penalty of a fine of 50 per cent of a player’s match fee, and one or two demerit points.