Sri Lanka all-rounder Dasun Shanaka has been fined 75% of his match fees for apparently “changing the condition of the ball” on day two of the ongoing 2^nd Test against India at the VCA Stadium in Nagpur.

He was found to have breached Article 2.2.9 of the ICC Code of Conduct for Players and Player Support Personnel besides receiving three more demerit points.

IND vs SL 2017, 2nd Test: Dasun Shanaka Charged for Altering the Condition of the Ball 2 — Sri Lanka’s Dasun Shanaka has been charged 75 percent of his match fees for changing the condition of the ball. Image Courtesy: BCCI

The incident happened during the 50^th over of India’s innings when Shanaka got caught on camera squabbling up on the area near the seam of the ball. The charge against him was labelled by the on-field umpires Joel Wilson and Richard Kettleborough, 3^rd umpire Nigel Llong and 4^th umpire Chettithody Shamshuddin at the conclusion of the 2^nd day’s play in Nagpur.

He pleaded guilty to the offence and accepted the sanction imposed on him by match referee David Boon due to which no formal hearing was required. Boon stated the sanction would ensure Sanaka who is just into his international cricket remains careful and doesn’t repeat the mistake.

“These are early days in Dasun’s career, and I am sure this sanction will ensure he is more careful when maintaining the condition of the ball in the future,” Boon was quoted as saying by Cricbuzz.

Meanwhile, the home team is the driver’s seat in the 2^nd Test and looks well set to seal the match within four days if the weather doesn’t play a spoilsport. Courtesy impressive bowling performances by Ravichandran Ashwin, Ravindra Jadeja and Ishant Sharma, India skittled out the visitors for a paltry 205.

IND vs SL 2017, 2nd Test: Dasun Shanaka Charged for Altering the Condition of the Ball 3 — Ravichandran Ashwin’s four-wicket haul in the first innings helped India restrict Sri Lanka to 205 in Nagpur. Image Courtesy: BCCI

After losing KL Rahul early, it was a sensational double century partnership between Murali Vijay and Cheteshwar Pujara which took India to a comfortable position. Both Vijay and Pujara struck magnificent centuries, as India ended the 2^nd day’s play on 312/2.

IND vs SL 2017, 2nd Test: Dasun Shanaka Charged for Altering the Condition of the Ball 4 — Cheteshwar Pujara and Virat Kohli held the ends at stumps on day two of Nagpur Test match. Image Courtesy: BCCI

While Rangana Herath dismissed Vijay on 128, Pujara remained unbeaten on 121 and shared an unbroken stand of 96 runs with Virat Kohli who is batting on 54.

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