ICC suspends five players for U-19 WC scuffle

Dubai: Two Indians, Akash Singh and Ravi Bishnoi — and three Bangladesh players were on Tuesday found guilty of bringing the game into disrepute and handed suspension points for the ugly on-field confrontation that marred the Under-19 World Cup final in South Africa.
Akash and Bishnoi along with Bangladesh’s Md. Towhid Hridoy, Shamim Hossain and Rakibul Hasan were found guilty of breaching the ICC Code of Conduct after the two sides nearly came to blows following Bangladesh’s three-wicket win for their maiden U-19 World Cup title in Potchefstroom, on Sunday. The article 2.21 of the ICC code relates to conduct that bring the game into disrepute. It covers public acts of misconduct, unruly public behaviour and inappropriate comments which are detrimental to the interests of the game.
One suspension point amounts to a player being ineligible for one ODI or T20I, U-19 or A team international match. However, all of these players are set to progress to the senior set up now and are unlikely to be affected by this.
Some Bangladesh players got carried away while celebrating their historic win over India in the final. “India’s Akash accepted the charge of breaching Article 2.21 and has received a sanction of eight suspension points, which equates to six demerit points, which will remain on his record for two years,” the ICC said. Compatriot Bishnoi accepted the charge of breaching Article 2.21 and received a sanction of five suspension points, which equates to five demerit points. “Bishnoi also accepted a level 1 charge of breaching Article 2.5 for a separate incident during the match, where he used language, actions or gestures which disparage or which could provoke an aggressive reaction from a batter following the dismissal of Avishek Das in the 23rd over,” said the ICC. “For this he received a further two demerit points meaning seven demerit points will remain on his record for the next two years.”
Bangladesh’s Hridoy received a sanction of 10 suspension points, which add up to six demerit points, which will remain on his record for two years. Hossain received a sanction of eight suspension points, which equate to six demerit points. They will remain on his record for two years. Hasan received a sanction of four suspension points, which equal five demerit points. (PTI)