• Home
  • Cricket News
  • Chamari Athapaththu Handed Demerit Point By Icc For Breaking Sunglasses

Chamari Athapaththu Handed Demerit Point By ICC For Breaking Sunglasses

Arnav Chopra

Chamari Athapaththu (Source: @ICC/X.com)Chamari Athapaththu (Source: @ICC/X.com)

In what is coming as embarrassing news, Sri Lankan women's skipper Chamari Athapaththu has been fined by the ICC (International Cricket Council) for breaking the code of conduct. Athapaththu breached the ICC's Level 1 code of conduct during the women's Tri-Series match against South Africa.

Chamari Athapaththu Sanctioned By The ICC

After the conclusion of the Tri-Series between India Women, South Africa Women, and Sri Lanka Women which the Indian side won after defeating the Sri Lankan team in the finale by 97 runs, more disappointing news has come for the host nation's skipper.

In the latest media release by the ICC, the governing council has sanctioned Sri Lankan skipper Chamari Athapaththu for breaking the ICC's code of conduct.

It all happened during match number 6 of the tri-nation series between Sri Lankan Women and South Africa Women played at the R. Premadasa Stadium in Colombo, where during the 32nd over of South Africa's innings, Annerie Dercksen smashed a boundary causing Athapaththu to lose her temper as she threw her sunglasses on the ground in anger, hence, breaking it into several pieces.

For breaching the ICC's guidelines, she has been handed a 10% fine of her match fees, while also receiving a demerit point, which is her first offense in this 24-month period.

She was sanctioned for a level one breach of the contract, which relates to "abuse of cricket equipment or throwing ground equipment or fixtures and fittings during an international match."  This comes under Article 2.2 of the ICC code of conduct for players and player support personnel.

After being called by the ICC match referee Michelle Ferera, Athapaththu admitted to the offense and accepted the sanctions leveled on her, so no formal hearing was required. On-field umpires Anna Harris and Dedunu de Silva, alongside third umpire Lyndon Hannibal and fourth umpire Nimali Perera, proposed this charge on the Sri Lankan skipper.

As per the official guidelines, level one breach generally carries a penalty of 50% of the player's match fee alongside one or two demerit points, whichever the match referee deems fit for the purpose.

India Women Lift Tri-Nation Series Trophy

Talking about that particular game between South Africa and Sri Lanka, the South African side posted a massive total of 315 after the end of their 50 overs, where Dercksen smashed 104, whereas Sri Lanka was bowled out for just 239, with Athapaththu being the highest scorer for the side with 52 runs. In the end, the African side won the game by 76 runs.

After that, the Indian and Sri Lankan sides met in the finale of the tournament, where Smriti Mandhana's brilliant 116 powered India to 342, whereas Sri Lanka were bowled out for 245. 

It was again Athapaththu, who smashed a half-century, but the Indian women completed an all-round victory by 97 runs to lift the tri-nation series trophy. Athapaththu who featured in five games during the series, scored a total of 139 runs, averaging 27.80, with a strike rate of 76.37, along with two half-centuries.