India pacer Mohammed Siraj has been docked 15 per cent of his match fee for breaching the ICC Code of Conduct during the ongoing third Test against England at Lord’s.
Siraj was found guilty of breaching Article 2.5 of the ICC Code of Conduct for Players and Player Support Personnel, 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.”
The incident took place after the bowler dismissed English opener Ben Duckett, and celebrated close to the batter in his follow-through during which he made contact as Duckett began his walk back to the Lord’s long room.
In addition to the fine, one demerit point has been added to Siraj’s disciplinary record, for which it was the second offence in a 24-month period, taking his tally to two demerit points. In December 2024, Siraj was handed one demerit point following an altercation with Australia’s left-handed batter Travis Head.
According to the rules, when a player reaches four or more demerit points within a 24-month period, they are converted into suspension points and a player is banned for a match.
The moment was one of several fiery moments in a Test match where the pendulum swiftly shifted every session.
Shoulder touch was entirely accidental: Atherton
Reacting to the penalty, former England captain Michael Atherton said match referee Richie Richardson was right in not punishing the pacer for a shoulder barge due to it being entirely accidental.
“There is a line, and no one wants to see physical altercations. So when Virat Kohli diverted his path to give young Sam Konstas a shoulder charge this winter, that’s a no-no. That should be stamped on.
“Yesterday (on Sunday), the little shoulder touch was entirely accidental. Siraj tried to get out of the way. Duckett just touched him as he walked off. The match referee has not taken any action on that shoulder barge, rightly, and just said Siraj was in Duckett’s face.
“To me, that’s something and nothing, 15 per cent of his match fee and one demerit point, let’s move on,” said Atherton on Sky Sports’ broadcast.
There’s been a lot of spice between the two teams in terms of verbal chatter and passionate celebration, which Atherton said has been enjoyable for him.
“ve enjoyed the needle in the contest and I think the crowd has as well. I would much rather see players care too much than too little. I would much rather see them caring too much about them playing for their country than too little,” Atherton said.
Find it ridiculous: Stuart Broad
Former England quick Stuart Broad questioned ICC’s sanction on Siraj by arguing why India skipper Shubman Gill got away with a fine, despite his swearing words to opener Zak Crawley caught on stump mic in the final over of day three’s play.
“Find this ridiculous. Siraj 15 per cent for aggressive celebration. Gill swears live on TV & carries on, and what? It’s either both or neither. Players aren’t and shouldn’t be robots, but consistency is key,” Broad said on his social media handle on Monday afternoon.