The International Cricket Council (ICC) on Monday, December 9, announced the action against Mohammed Siraj and Travis Head for their argument on Day 2 of the pink-ball Test at the Adelaide Oval. Siraj was fined 20 percent of his match fee, while Head was also punished.
Both of them have been handed one demerit point for breaching the ICC Code of Conduct. The incident happened after Siraj dismissed Head in the second Test, which Australia won by 10 wickets.
“Mohammed Siraj has been fined 20 percent of his match fee, and one demerit point has been added to his record. He breached Article 2.5 of the ICC Code of Conduct for Players and Player Support Personnel, which covers using language, actions or gestures that could provoke a batter to give an aggressive reaction upon his dismissal,” the ICC said in a statement.
“Head has also been sanctioned with one demerit point for breaking Article 2.13 of the ICC Code of Conduct for Players and Player Support Personnel, which is related to using abusive language towards a rival player, support staff, umpire or match referee during an international game.”
Siraj and Head were not suspended, as it was their first offence in the last 2 years.
Mohammed Siraj reacted angrily when he clean-bowled Travis Head, who scored 140 off 141. The batter didn’t like the behaviour and abused the pacer. In the press conference, Head lied to the reporters that he said well bowled to Siraj, who crossed the line, and he was disappointed.
The 30-year-old seamer exposed the Australian batter the next morning, calling out his false statement. Siraj revealed that Head had abused him, which forced him to react in that way.
The two players decided to leave behind their ugly spat and spoke to each other when Siraj came out to bat in India’s second innings on Day 3.