Jasprit Bumrah Reprimanded for Breaching ICC Code of Conduct, Found Guilty of 'Inappropriate Physical Contact'

India cricketer Jasprit Bumrah has been officially reprimanded by the International Cricket Council (ICC) after the fast bowler was found to have breached Code of Conduct during the first Test against England that concluded on Sunday.

As per the ICC, Bumrah, during the 81st over of the England’s second innings on Day 4 of the Test, deliberately blocked Ollie Pope after follow through even as the England batter was going for a run.

“The incident occurred in the 81st over of England’s second innings, when Bumrah, after completing his follow through, deliberately stepped in Ollie Pope’s way as the batter went for a run, leading to inappropriate physical contact,” a statement from ICC read.

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“Bumrah 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.'” it added.

A demerit point has been added to Bumrah’s disciplinary record, for whom it was the first offence in a 24-month period.

Bumrah has admitted the offence and also accepted the sanction proposed by IC match referee Richie Richardson.

On-field umpires Paul Reiffel and Chris Gaffaney, third umpire Marais Erasmus and fourth umpire Rohan Pandit 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.

As per the ICC rules, if a player accrues four or more demerit points within a 24-month period, they are converted into suspension points resulting in a ban.

Two suspension points equate to a ban from one Test or two ODIs or two T20Is, whatever comes first for the player.

The demerit points 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.

Pope top-scored in the match with a magnificent 196 as England went on to win by 28 runs to take a 1-0 lead in the five-match series. The second Test starts from February 2.