West Indies’ Sherfane Rutherford (PTI Photo)
Both players have received official reprimands and one demerit point each for breaching the ICC Code of Conduct during the match. West Indies batters Rovman Powell and Sherfane Rutherford have landed in trouble with the International Cricket Council (ICC) after separate on-field incidents during the second T20I against India in Ranchi on Friday.
Powell was found guilty of breaching Article 2.2 of the ICC Code of Conduct for Players and Player Support Personnel, which deals with the abuse of cricket equipment, clothing, ground equipment or fixtures and fittings. Since both incidents were their first offences in the preceding 24 months, neither player had any previous demerit points recorded during that period. Level 1 breaches carry a minimum penalty of an official reprimand and a maximum penalty of a fine of 50 per cent of a player’s match fee, according to the ICC Code of Conduct. Demerit points remain on a player’s disciplinary record for 24 months from the date of the offence.
As a result, no formal hearings were required. Both Powell and Rutherford admitted their respective offences and accepted the sanctions proposed by match referee Prakash Bhatt of the Emirates ICC International Panel of Match Referees. The charges were levelled by on-field umpires Jayaraman Madanagopal and Rohan Pandit, third umpire Nitin Menon, and fourth umpire Virender Sharma. The one demerit point awarded to each player has been added to their disciplinary records. Players can also receive one or two demerit points, depending on the nature and severity of the offence. If a player accumulates four or more demerit points during that period, they are converted into suspension points, potentially resulting in a ban from international cricket.