Ben Stokes of England has been fined 15 per cent of his match fee for breaching the ICC Code of Conduct during the second and final Test against Bangladesh in Mirpur on Sunday.
Stokes was found to have violated Article 2.1.1 of the ICC Code of Conduct for Players and Player Support Personnel, which relates to “conduct that is contrary to the spirit of the game”.
In addition to the sanction imposed for his breach of Article 2.1.1, one demerit point has been added to Stokes’ disciplinary record.
Pursuant to Article 7.6 of the Code, if Stokes reaches four or more demerit points within a 24-month period, they will be converted into suspension points and he will be banned. Two suspension points equate to a ban from one Test or two ODIs or two T20Is, whatever comes first for the player.
The incident happened during the morning session’s play on Sunday when Stokes ignored the on-field umpires’ repeated requests and instructions to stop by continuing to verbally engage with Bangladesh batsman Sabbir Rahman. The on-field umpires had also advised England captain Alastair Cook of Stokes’ actions, but the player didn’t comply with the instructions.
Stokes admitted the offence and accepted the sanction proposed by Ranjan Madugalle of the Emirates Elite Panel of ICC Match Referees and, as such, there was no need for a formal hearing.
The charge was laid by on-field umpires Kumar Dharmasena and S.Ravi and third umpire Chris Gaffaney.
All level 1 breaches carry a minimum penalty of an official warning, a maximum penalty of 50 per cent of a player’s match fee, and one or two demerit points.
