Sri Lankan wicket-keeper batsman Niroshan Dickwella has been suspended for two limited-overs matches after showing resentment over an umpire’s decision when he was given caught behind on the bowling of James Faulkner in the second Twenty20 International on Tuesday (February 21) against Australia in Geelong.
The Kandy-born 23-year-old left-handed batsman Dickwella had breached the International Cricket Council’s Code of Conduct for the second time before receiving the two demerit points and a match fine of 30 percent.
“During the second Twenty20 International against Australia in Geelong on Sunday, Dickwella was found guilty of breaching article 2.1.5 of the ICC Code of Conduct for Player and Player Support Personnel, which relates to “showing dissent at an umpire’s decision during an international match,” the ICC said in a media release.
However, the ball appeared to brush Dickwella’s shoulder, who kicked the turf after being caught by wicket-keeper batsman Tim Paine, who was also fined for 15 percent for breaching Article 2.1.7 of the ICC Code of Conduct.
Given this, Dickwella will miss the third and final T20I in Adelaide on February 22. He will also miss the first ODI against Bangladesh which is currently scheduled for March 25.
The left-handed batsman Dickwella was also fined 50 percent of match fee during the fourth One-day International match against South Africa earlier this month.
“As Dickwella had received a 50 per cent fine and three demerit points in the fourth ODI against South Africa in Cape Town on 8 February 2017, with the addition of these two demerit points, he has reached the minimum threshold of four demerit points, which, pursuant to article 7.6 of the Code, have now been converted into two suspension points,” it added.
The third umpire Joel Wilson and match official Michael Graham Smith alongside on-field umpires Sam Nogajski and Simon Fry leveled the charges against both the glove-men from Australia and Sri Lanka respectively.
Dickwella has played 11 ODIs, 8 T20Is and four Tests for Sri Lanka since making his debut in 2014 against South Africa.
The Two suspension points equate to a ban from one Test or two ODIs or two T20Is, whatever comes first for the player,” it concluded.
Sri Lanka is leading the three-match T20 series by 2-0.