Team India pacer Mohammed Siraj has been slapped with a fine following his on-the-face celebration against England opener Ben Duckett on day four of the third Test at the Lord's Cricket Ground. The ICC has deducted Siraj's 15 per cent of the match fee for breaching Level 1 of ICC Code of Conduct.
The incident occurred when Siraj dismissed the Nottinghamshire opener in the first session of play on day four. With tempers flaring high between the two sides on day three, Siraj was fired up and got rewarded with Duckett's wicket following a probing spell. Nevertheless, the 31-year-old roaring at Duckett's face, followed by brushing the shoulder sparked plenty of controversy.
According to ICC, the Hyderabad-born cricketer breached Article 2.5 of the ICC Code of Conduct, 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." He has also received a demerit point.
Mohammed Siraj had received a demerit point last year during the Australia tour
Notably, the demerit point is Siraj's second in the 24-month period, having copped one last year during the Adelaide Test against Australia for another fiery send-off to Travis Head. 4 demerit points for a player within the 24-month period would mean they are converted into suspension points and the cricketer is banned.
Meanwhile, the Lord's Test will head to day five, with India requiring 135 more runs. England's late spark reduced the tourists to 58/4 after being 41/1 at one stage.
