THE International Cricket Council (ICC) said on Wednesday (September 7) it had fined Sri Lankan off-spinner Sachithra Senanayake 30 percent of his match fee for making disparaging remarks during the opening T20 game against Australia.
The incident happened in the fifth over of Australia’s innings on Tuesday (September 6) when Senanayake, after dismissing David Warner, made remarks which the ICC claimed could have provoked a reaction from the Australian captain.
Sri Lankan off-spinner was found to have breached an article in the Code of Conduct which relates to “using language, actions or gestures which disparage or which could provoke an aggressive reaction from a batsman upon his dismissal during an international match,” it said in a statement.
Senanayake admitted the offence and accepted the sanction proposed by match referee Javagal Srinath.
“As such, there was no need for a formal hearing,” the ICC statement added.
The maximum penalty for a first-time offence is 50 percent of a player’s match fee.
Australia hit a world record 263-3 to canter to an 85-run win in the T20 game at Pallekele for a 1-0 lead in the series.
Norris capitalised on the incident to take the lead and hold on for victory. Getty Images 
