Wanindu Hasaranga suspended from Tests vs Bangladesh

Sri Lanka’s premier spinner Wanindu Hasaranga was suspended from playing the upcoming Test series against Bangladesh. Sri Lanka and Bangladesh are scheduled to play two Tests with the first match starting on March 22 at the Sylhet International Cricket Stadium in Sylhet.

Hasaranga’s suspension came less than a day after Sri Lanka announced that the 26-year-old would join the Test team as he is coming out of retirement. Notably, the International Cricket Council (ICC) learned that he breached article 2.8 of the player’s code of conduct, which relates to showing dissent against the umpire’s decision, during the third and final ODI against Bangladesh held at the Zahur Ahmed Chowdhury Stadium in Chattogram on March 18.

According to an ICC press release on Tuesday, March 19, stated that the bizarre incident occurred during the 37th over of the third ODI when “he snatched his cap from one of the umpires and ridiculed the umpiring in the match.”

The 26-year-old was fined 50% of his match fees and was issued three demerit points. This will take his total demerits to eight, and when it reaches eight, triggering a mandatory absence from either two Tests, four ODIs, or four T20Is, whichever happened first. It is worth noting that if he hadn’t come out of Test retirement, he would have been unavailable for Sri Lanka’s first four matches in the 2024 ICC T20 World Cup which is scheduled to start on June 2.

In contrast, Kusal Mendis, Sri Lanka’s ODI captain, also fined 50% of his match fees three demerit points for “abusing the umpires while shaking hands with them,” during the conclusion of the third ODI. Both Mendis and Hasaranga admitted their guilt and acknowledged the penalties imposed against them by match referee Andy Pycroft. In addition, Sri Lanka’s spin attack is now altered due to Hasaranga’s suspension. Sri Lanka is expected to bring Kamindu Mendis, who has participated in only one Test, and the uncapped Nishan Peiris into the mix for the upcoming series.