NAGPUR: India's left-arm spin all-rounder Ravindra Jadeja has been fined 25 per cent of his match fee and given one demerit point for breaching Level 1 of the ICC Code of Conduct during the first Test against Australia at the VCA Stadium in Nagpur.
The International Cricket Council (ICC) said in a release that Jadeja was fined for applying cream to his bowling finger without permission from the umpires. It added that Jadeja did not, however, alter the condition of the ball. One demerit point added to Jadeja's disciplinary record means it is his first offence in 24 months.
The incident occurred in the 46th over of Australia's first innings on day one of the match on Thursday, when they were at 120/5. Jadeja applied a soothing cream to a swelling on the index finger of his bowling hand without asking for permission to do so from the on-field umpires, footage of which went viral on social media. In the video, Jadeja was seen taking a bit of ointment off the back of Mohammed Siraj's palm through his right hand. Jadeja then appeared to rub the ointment onto the index finger of his left hand just before beginning to bowl a delivery. At that time, the ball was in his hand. The incident triggered a lot of debate on social media.
"Jadeja admitted the offence and accepted the sanction proposed by Andy Pycroft of the Emirates ICC Elite Panel of Match Referees, so there was no need for a formal hearing." (IANS)..
Also Watch: