Sri Lanka captain Upul Tharanga suspended for slow over-rate

Dubai: Sri Lanka captain Upul Tharanga has been suspended from the next two ODIs of the ongoing five-match series against India after his side were found guilty of a serious over-rate offence during their nerve-wracking three-wicket defeat in the second match in Pallekele on Thursday.

Andy Pycroft of the Emirates Elite Panel of ICC Match Referees imposed the suspension after the Sri Lanka side was ruled to be three overs short of its target when time allowances were taken into consideration.

In accordance with Article 2.5.2 of the ICC Code of Conduct for Players and Player Support Personnel, which relates to serious over-rate offences, players were fined 10 per cent of their match fees for the first two overs and 20 per cent of their match fees for the third over their side failed to bowl in the allotted time, with the captain also receiving two suspension points.

As two suspension points equate to a ban from one Test or two ODIs or two T20Is, whatever comes first for the player, Tharanga has been suspended from his side's upcoming matches against India in Pallekele and Colombo on August 27 and August 31 respectively, while each of his players have received a fine of 40 per cent.

Tharanga pleaded guilty to the offence and accepted the proposed sanction, so there was no need for a formal hearing.

Tharanga was also suspended for two matches in the ICC Champions Trophy 2017 due to a serious over-rate offence. Therefore, if Sri Lanka commits another serious over-rate breach in an ODI from now until June 3, 2018 with Tharanga as captain, it will be a third serious over rate offence by Tharanga and he will receive a sanction of a minimum of eight suspension points.

The charge was laid by on-field umpires Ranmore Marti.