Virat Kohli Pulled Up By ICC for Misconduct During 3rd T20I vs SA

Virat Kohli has been reprimanded by the ICC and pulled up for a Level 1 breach of the ICC Code of Conduct.

(Photo: AP)

The T20I series against South Africa ended in a draw on Sunday night and while Indian skipper Virat Kohli may have accepted the result, keeping in mind his decision to bat first, his actions during the match have been found to be unacceptable by the International Cricket Council.

Virat has received an official warning and one demerit point after being found guilty of a Level 1 breach of the ICC Code of Conduct.

The incident in focus occurred during the fifth over of India’s innings, when Kohli made contact with bowler Beuran Hendricks while taking a run.

“Kohli was found to have breached Article 2.12 of the ICC Code of Conduct for Players and Player Support Personnel, which relates to ‘Inappropriate physical contact with a Player, Player Support Personnel, Umpire, Match Referee or any other person (including a spectator) during an International Match’,” the ICC said in a statement.

In addition to this, one demerit point has been added to the disciplinary record of Kohli, for whom it was the third offence since the introduction of the revised Code in September 2016.

Kohli now has three demerit points after having got one demerit point each during the Pretoria Test against South Africa on 15 January 2018 and against Afghanistan in the ICC Men’s Cricket World Cup 2019 on 22 June.

"Kohli admitted the offence and accepted the sanction proposed by match referee Richie Richardson of the Emirates ICC Elite Panel of Match Referees, and as such, there was no need for a formal hearing," the ICC said.

On-field umpires Nitin Menon and C K Nandan, third umpire Anil Chaudhary and fourth official Chettihody Shamshuddin levelled the charge.

Level 1 breaches carry a minimum penalty of an official reprimand, a maximum penalty of 50 per cent of a player’s match fee, and one or two demerit points.

ICC Rules

• When a player reaches four or more demerit points within a 24-month period, they are converted into suspension points and a player is banned.
• Two suspension points equate to a ban from one Test or two ODIs or two T20Is, whatever comes first for the player.
• Demerit Points to remain on a Player or Player Support Personnel’s disciplinary record for a period of twenty-four (24) months from their imposition following which they will be expunged.