Bangladesh bowler Maruf Mridha faced repercussions from the ICC on Tuesday for his use of “abusive language” during the U-19 World Cup match against India in Bloemfontein. The ICC found Mridha in violation of Article 2.5 of the Code of Conduct, which pertains to “using language, actions, or gestures that disparage or could provoke an aggressive reaction from a batter upon his/her dismissal in an International Match.”
This marked Mridha’s first offence in 24 months, resulting in the addition of one demerit point to his disciplinary record, according to an ICC press release. The incident unfolded in the 44th over of India’s innings when, after dismissing a batter, Mridha aggressively pointed twice to the changing room, delivering a send-off. Acknowledging the offence, Mridha accepted the proposed sanction from ICC match referee Shaid Wadvalla. Consequently, a formal hearing was deemed unnecessary.
Despite Mridha’s impactful bowling performance of 5/43 in 8 overs, contributing to Bangladesh limiting India to 251/7 in 50 overs, his team ultimately suffered an 84-run defeat, being dismissed for 167 in 45.5 overs.
The charge against Mridha was levelled by on-field umpires Donovan Koch and Nigel Duguid, along with third umpire Allahudien Paleker and fourth umpire Langton Rusere. By Level 1 breaches, Mridha faced an official reprimand, with the potential for a maximum penalty of 50% of his match fee and the addition of one or two demerit points.
This incident serves as a reminder of the ICC’s commitment to maintaining the integrity of the game, emphasizing the importance of players adhering to the established Code of Conduct, even in the high-pressure environment of international competitions like the U-19 World Cup.
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