Sri Lanka spinner Prabath Jayasuriya has received an official reprimand and a demerit point after he hit the boundary wedges with his bat on his way back to the pavilion during the second Test against India in Colombo.
The incident happened on the second day of the match, moments after his dismissal off the final ball of the day’s play. It marks Jayasuriya’s first demerit point in a 24-month window.
Match officials charged Jayasuriya under Level 1 of the ICC’s code of conduct for players and player support personnel. This section covers the abuse of cricket equipment, clothing, ground fixtures, and fittings during an international match.
Jayasuriya, who was batting as nightwatcher at No. 3, was given LBW off Manav Suthar with the last delivery of the day. Television footage also captured him throwing his gloves inside the dressing room after walking off.
Third Discipline Case in Colombo Test
Jayasuriya’s punishment brings the tally of disciplinary breaches in this Test to three. Yashasvi Jaiswal and Asitha Fernando were both penalised on the opening day after a heated exchange on the field.
The ICC fined each player 25% of their match fee for inappropriate physical contact and added a demerit point to both their records.
That earlier flashpoint unfolded after Asitha dismissed Jaiswal off the final ball of the 17th over on day one. Jaiswal had started walking toward the dressing room but changed course and moved back toward Asitha. It was apparently a reaction to the comments from the Sri Lankan huddle celebrating the wicket.
An ICC statement described the sequence: Jaiswal approached Fernando, the two exchanged words, and their heads made contact after Fernando leaned in and Jaiswal responded in kind.
Replays, however, told a slightly different story. They showed Jaiswal turning and walking toward Asitha first, while Asitha took only a small step in his direction. Jaiswal then leaned his helmeted head toward Asitha, who stood his ground rather than stepping back.
Series Context and Standings
India currently lead the two-match series 1-0, after winning the opening Test in Galle by a margin of 165 runs. The second Test in Colombo has already produced heated moments on both sides, which added an edge to a contest that India entered as firm favourites.
Sri Lanka’s discipline on the field has come under scrutiny alongside their performances with bat and ball, with the hosts searching for answers in both departments.
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What Comes Next for Sri Lanka
With three demerit points already logged in a single Test, the ICC’s disciplinary process will likely stay in focus as the match progresses. Players who accumulate four or more demerit points within a 24-month period face an automatic suspension, so Jayasuriya, Jaiswal, and Asitha will need to keep their conduct in check for the remainder of the series.
Sri Lanka are chasing a way back into the contest with the hope that the on-field friction does not distract from their effort to level the series and avoid a home defeat to India for the seventh straight time.
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