PkRevenue.com – Australian cricketer Matthew Wade has been officially reprimanded for breaching Level 1 of the ICC Code of Conduct during a Group B match in the ICC Men’s T20 World Cup 2024.
The match, held at the Kensington Oval in Barbados on Saturday, saw Wade’s infraction occur during a crucial moment of the game against England.
Wade was found guilty of violating Article 2.8 of the ICC Code of Conduct for Players and Player Support Personnel. This article specifically addresses “showing dissent at an umpire’s decision during an international match,” a charge that the Australian wicketkeeper-batsman faced after expressing his displeasure over an umpire’s call.
The incident in question took place during the 18th over of Australia’s innings. Wade, after playing a delivery from England’s leg-spinner Adil Rashid back to the bowler, expected the umpire to call a ‘dead ball.’
However, when the umpire did not make such a call, Wade engaged in a verbal altercation with the officials, expressing his disagreement.
The match officials, including on-field umpires Nitin Menon and Joel Wilson, third umpire Asif Yaqoob, and fourth umpire Jayaraman Madangopal, collectively charged Wade with the offense.
Subsequently, Wade admitted to the breach and accepted the sanction proposed by Andy Pycroft of the Emirates ICC Elite Panel of Match Referees, thereby avoiding the need for a formal hearing.
In addition to the official reprimand, one demerit point has been added to Wade’s disciplinary record. This marks his first offense within a 24-month period, a crucial detail as accumulation of demerit points can lead to more severe penalties, including suspension from future matches.
Level 1 breaches of the ICC Code of Conduct are considered the least severe but still carry significant penalties. They can result in an official reprimand, a fine of up to 50 percent of a player’s match fee, and the addition of one or two demerit points to the player’s record.
These sanctions are designed to maintain the integrity of the game and ensure that players adhere to the spirit of cricket.
