After India’s frustrating 28-run defeat to England in the first Test at the Rajiv Gandhi International Stadium in Hyderabad, fast bowler Jasprit Bumrah was found guilty of violating the ICC Code of Conduct. He received an official reprimand for his actions on the fourth day of the first Test match of the five-game series.
The incident occurred in the 81st over of England’s second innings, when Bumrah intentionally stepped in the path of Ollie Pope as the batter took off for a single, resulting in unwanted physical contact.
Bumrah, who took 6 wickets in the Hyderabad Test match, was found to have violated Article 2.12 of the ICC Code of Conduct for Players and Player Support Personnel, which pertains to “inappropriate physical contact with a Player, Player Support Personnel, Umpire, Match Referee or any other person (including a spectator during an International Match.”
Since it was the fast bowler’s first offence in 24 months, the ICC didn’t punish him, however, he did receive one demerit point. On-field umpires Paul Reiffel and Chris Gaffaney, third umpire Marais Erasmus, and fourth umpire Rohan Pandit all levelled the charge.
The lowest penalty for violating Level 1 of the ICC Code of Conduct is an official reprimand, while the highest is 50% of a player’s match fee, plus one or two demerit points. Bumrah’s offence had no formal hearing, as the 30-year-old pled guilty and accepted the penalty imposed by Richie Richardson of the Emirates ICC Elite Panel of Match Referees.