The International Cricket Council (ICC) has acted on the viral incident that saw Ravindra Jadeja apply an ointment on his bowling fingers during the first day of play in the first Test match between India and Australia at the Vidarbha Cricket Association Stadium.
The world cricket governing body stated that Jadeja was found guilty of breaching Level 1 of the ICC code of conduct as he did not ask for the umpire’s permission. For this incident, the ICC has fined Ravindra Jadeja 25% of his match fees. He was also given one demerit point because this was his first offence in 24 months.The match referee did clarify that he was convinced that the cream was applied just for medical purposes and not for any sort of ball tampering.
“The incident occurred in the 46th over of Australia’s first innings, when Jadeja applied a soothing cream to a swelling on the index finger of his bowling hand without asking for permission to do so from the on-field umpires.”
Jadeja admitted the offence and accepted the sanction proposed by Andy Pycroft of the Emirates ICC Elite Panel of Match Referees, so there was no need for a formal hearing,” the ICC statement said.
“In reaching his decision to sanction the player along with the Level 1 sanction he imposed, the Match Referee was satisfied that the cream was applied to the finger purely for medical purposes. The cream was not applied as an artificial substance to the ball and consequently it did not change the condition of the ball, which would have been in breach of clause 41.3 of the ICC playing conditions – Unfair Play – The Match Ball – Changing its Condition,” the ICC statement added.
The Australian media had accused India of indulging in ball tampering, with former Australian captain Tim Paine adding fuel to the fire with a comment on Twitter.
