The captain of Sri Lanka, Wanindu Hasaranga, was suspended by the ICC for abusing the umpire
Sri Lanka cricket team newly named captain Wanindu Hasaranga has been suspended by the International Cricket Council in a strict punishment over abusing an on-field umpire during the series-ending defeat against Afghanistan earlier this week. He has been slapped with a two-match suspension after his total demerit points reached five within the last 24-month period following his latest breach of the ICC Code of Conduct, for which he received a 50 percent fine and three demerit points.
On Thursday, Hasaranga launched a scathing attack against Lyndon Hannibal, who was the square-leg umpire during the tense final over in the third T20I against Afghanistan in Dambulla, after a full-high toss delivery from Wafadar Momand, which passed batter Kamindu Mendis above waist height without pitching, was deemed legal.
Hasaranga said of the incident, "That kind of thing shouldn't happen in an international match. If it had been close [to waist height], that's not a problem. But a ball that's going so high... it would have hit the batsman's head if it had gone a little higher. If you can't see that, that umpire isn't suited to international cricket. It would be much better if he did another job."
Hasaranga was found guilty of breaching Article 2.13 of the ICC Code of Conduct for Players and Player Support Personnel, which pertains to “personal abuse of a player, player support personnel, umpire, or match referee during an international match.
With the all-rounder’s demerit points accumulating to five over the last 24 months, which converted to two suspension points, it implies that the player will either get a ban for one Test match or two ODIs or T20Is, whichever comes first.