India’s Test vice-captain and wicketkeeper-batter Rishabh Pant has narrowly avoided a one-match suspension but has been penalised for misbehaving with the umpire during the Leeds Test. The International Cricket Council (ICC) has officially reprimanded Pant and added one demerit point to his disciplinary record — a mark that could cause trouble for him in the future.
The incident occurred after the umpires rejected a ball change request during England’s first innings. The umpires checked the ball with a gauge and found it to be within the acceptable size, refusing to replace it. Pant, visibly frustrated, threw the ball to the ground in disagreement.
In an official media release, the ICC stated that Pant was found guilty of breaching Level 1 of the ICC Code of Conduct for Players and Player Support Personnel on Day 3 of the Headingley Test against England. He was charged under Article 2.8 of the ICC Code, which relates to “showing dissent at an umpire’s decision during an international match.”
Along with the official reprimand, one demerit point has been added to Pant’s record. This is his first offence within a 24-month period. The incident took place at the end of the 61st over in England’s first innings. After the umpires chose not to change the ball, Pant expressed his displeasure by throwing the ball on the ground in front of them.
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Pant accepted the charge and the sanction proposed by match referee Richie Richardson, which meant there was no need for a formal hearing.
On-field umpires Paul Reiffel and Chris Gaffaney, third umpire Sharfuddoula Ibne Shahid, and fourth umpire Mike Burns laid the charge against Pant. For Level 1 breaches, the minimum penalty is an official reprimand, and the maximum can be a 50% match fee fine and one or two demerit points.
According to ICC rules, if a player accumulates four demerit points within a two-year period, it could result in a ban for one Test match or two ODIs or two T20Is.
