South Africa’s fast bowler Gerald Coetzee faced disciplinary action after showing dissent during the fourth T20I against India. Coetzee was reprimanded and given a demerit point following his reaction to a wide-ball call, where he directed an inappropriate comment at the umpire. The incident was classified as a breach of Article 2.8 under the ICC Code, which prohibits “showing dissent at an umpire’s decision.” Coetzee accepted the penalty proposed by match referee Andy Pycroft, avoiding a formal hearing.
Similar actions were taken against two other players in recent matches: Netherlands captain Scott Edwards and Oman bowler Sufyan Mehmood. During the third T20I, Edwards committed two separate violations. First, he showed dissent by gesturing with his bat following an LBW dismissal and later threw his bat and gloves onto the field in frustration.
These breaches fell under Article 2.8 and Article 2.2 of the ICC Code, the latter covering “abuse of cricket equipment or fixtures.” As a result, Edwards was fined 10% of his match fee and received two demerit points.
Meanwhile, Oman’s Sufyan Mehmood was fined 10% of his match fee and assigned one demerit point for breaching Article 2.5 of the Code. His infraction occurred after Teja Nidamanuru’s dismissal, when Mehmood gestured provocatively toward the batter, pointing him to the dressing room. This action was flagged as conduct that could provoke a reaction, violating ICC’s sportsmanship guidelines.
All players accepted their sanctions, bypassing the need for formal hearings. The charges, categorized as Level 1 breaches of the ICC Code, were filed by the ICC’s official panel of match referees, aligning with the Code’s stance on maintaining decorum and respect during international matches.
These incidents highlight the ICC’s commitment to upholding sportsmanship, with penalties reinforcing that dissent and unsportsmanlike conduct will not be tolerated on the international stage.
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