Ravindra Jadeja has been fined 25 per cent of match-fee for applying ointment on his finger without informing the on-field umpires during India’s first Test against Australia in the Border-Gavaskar Trophy.
“The India team management had explained that the finger spinner was applying the cream to a swelling on the index finger of his bowling hand. This was done without asking for permission from the on-field umpires,” stated the International Cricket Council (ICC) in a statement.
The ICC statement clarified that the Australian team did not lodge a complaint and Jadeja was not at all accused of ball-tampering.
“The Match Referee was satisfied that the cream was applied to the finger purely for medical purposes. The cream was not applied as an artificial substance to the ball and consequently, it did not change the condition of the ball, which would have been in breach of clause 41.3 of the ICC playing conditions - Unfair Play - The Match Ball - Changing its Condition,” added the statement.
The incident occurred in the 46th over Australia’s first innings when Jadeja, the eventual player of the match for his all-round performance, with Mohammed Siraj’s help applied cream on his left-hand finger. Once the footage appeared on social media, match referee Andy Pycroft in consultation with the umpires Nitin Menon and Michael Gough levelled the charges.
Comments
SHARE