New Delhi: India fast bowler Harshit Rana has been officially reprimanded and handed one demerit point by the ICC for breaching Level 1 of the Code of Conduct during the first ODI against South Africa in Ranchi on Sunday.
Rana’s offense fell under Article 2.5 of the ICC Code of Conduct, which prohibits “using language, actions or gestures that disparage or could provoke an aggressive reaction from a batter upon dismissal during an international match.”
The incident occurred in the 22nd over of South Africa’s innings when Rana, after dismissing Dewald Brevis, made a gesture toward the dressing room that could have incited the batter.
This marks Rana’s first offense in a 24-month period. He accepted the sanction proposed by Richie Richardson of the Emirates ICC Elite Panel of Match Referees, avoiding the need for a formal hearing.
On-field umpires Jayaraman Madanagopal and Sam Nogajski, along with third umpire Rod Tucker and fourth umpire Rohan Pandit, had raised the charge. Under ICC rules, Level 1 breaches carry a minimum penalty of an official reprimand, a maximum fine of 50% of the match fee, and one or two demerit points.
