West Indies pacer Alzarri Joseph was penalized for using abusive language during a verbal exchange with the fourth umpire in the first ODI in St. Kitts and Nevis. The ICC fined the Antiguan 25% of his match fee and issued him a demerit point.
The incident unfolded before play began when Joseph had a confrontation with the fourth umpire, using offensive language after being instructed not to walk on the pitch with his spikes.
This marked the pacer’s second offence in 24 months, following a prior outburst at Shai Hope during an ODI against England. The 28-year-old accepted the charges and the resulting punishment, avoiding the need for a formal hearing.
The charge was brought by on-field umpires Kumar Dharmasena and Leslie Reifer, third umpire Asif Yaqoob, and fourth umpire Gregory Brathwaite. Level one offences typically carry a maximum fine of 50% of the match fee.
Alzarri Joseph claimed two wickets, limiting Bangladesh to 294/6 in their 50 overs
The Antiguan delivered figures of 10-0-67-2, taking the wickets of Tanzid Hasan (60) and Soumya Sarkar (19). Romario Shepherd stood out with 10-1-51-3, while Jayden Seales claimed one wicket.
Sherfane Rutherford stole the spotlight with a blistering 113 off just 80 balls, inflicting the most damage on the visiting side. His explosive innings paved the way for a comfortable victory.
Shai Hope contributed a valuable 86, while Justin Greaves added 41, providing crucial support. The hosts chased down the target in 47.4 overs, securing a five-wicket win. With this victory, the West Indies aim to clinch the series in the second ODI on Tuesday.
In the preceding Test series, both West Indies and Bangladesh managed one win each, resulting in a draw. However, neither team remains in contention for a spot in the World Test Championship (WTC) final.
Get the latest cricket news here, like us on Facebook, and follow us on Twitter and Instagram for more such updates.