The Sri Lankan cricketers Vishen Halambage and Niroshan Dickwella have been sanctioned by the SLC-appointed match referee Pradeep Jeyapragash for their conduct during a tri-nation A series match against India. The incident occurred after a tense Super Over finish, which saw Halambage making provocative comments towards Indian batters, leading to an almost physical confrontation with the 15-year-old Indian star Vaibhav Sooryavanshi.
Details of the incident
The match ended in a tie with both teams scoring 265 runs each. In the Super Over, India needed 17 runs to win but managed only nine, with Sooryavanshi scoring six runs off the last three deliveries from Sri Lankan fast bowler Kugathas Mathulan. After the Super Over, Halambage's comments sparked a heated argument, forcing Sooryavanshi to push him away as he came too close. Dickwella intervened to prevent the situation from escalating, but was sanctioned for excessive appealing.
Sanctions and umpiring concerns
The exact quantum of sanctions remains undisclosed. There is no confirmation whether Indian players, including Sooryavanshi and captain Tilak Varma, who argued with on-field umpires about conducting the Super Over under fading lights, received official sanctions or mere warnings. Additionally, the umpiring duo of Shantha Fonseca and Prageeth Rambukwella faced criticism for poor standards during the match.
