On the first day of Mohali test, Ben Stokes of England has received an official reprimand for breaching Level 1 of the ICC Code of Conduct during the opening day’s play in the third Test against India in Mohali on Saturday.
The English team, which chose to bat first after winning the toss, scored 268 for 8 wickets at Stumps with Gareth Batty & Adil Rashid at crease.
The English all-rounder, Stokes was found to have breached Article 2.1.4 of the ICC Code of Conduct for Players and Player Support Personnel, which relates to “using language or a gesture that is obscene, offensive or insulting during an International Match”.
The Article 2.1.4 of the code details about (a) excessively audible or repetitious swearing; and (b) obscene gestures which are not directed at another person, such as swearing in frustration at one’s own poor play or fortune. In addition, this offence is not intended to penalise trivial behaviour.
Under the Article the Umpires are guided through the process of identification and reprimand to denounce any player’s misbehavior. The all-rounder, in addition, has been slapped with one demerit point onto his disciplinary record.
In the official communication related to the case, the ICC has said that pursuant to Article 7.6 of the Code, if Stokes reaches four or more demerit points within a 24-month period, they will be converted into suspension points and he will be banned. It also means that after 8 such incidents (which will earn him two suspension points), he’ll get a ban from one Test or two ODIs or two T20Is, whatever comes first for the player.
Going back to the incident, it happened when Stokes reacted to India players’ celebrations following his dismissal by making inappropriate comments which were heard by both the on-field umpires.
In the meeting with the Umpires and Match Referee, Stokes admitted the offence and accepted the sanction proposed by Ranjan Madugalle of the Emirates Elite Panel of ICC Match Referees and, as such, there was no need for a formal hearing.
Earlier, the charge was levelled by on-field umpires Marais Erasmus and Chris Gaffaney, and third umpire Kumar Dharmasena, all from the Emirates Elite Panel of ICC Umpires, onto the conduct of the player after his dismissal.
As per the ICC Code of Conduct, for all first offences, Level 1 breaches carry a minimum penalty of an official reprimand, a maximum penalty of 50 per cent of a player’s match fee, and one or two demerit points.