Jaiswal responds to Bhogle over Asitha clash assessment during Colombo Test

Both Jaiswal and Asitha Fernando have been fined 25% of their match fees and handed one demerit point by the ICC a day after the clash

Indian opener Yashasvi Jaiswal on Monday responded to veteran commentator and sports presenter Harsha Bhogle on the latter’s assessment of his confrontation with Sri Lanka pacer Asitha Fernando during the ongoing second Test between India and Sri Lanka in Colombo on Sunday, saying people should not make a judgement without knowing what was said during the incident.

 

Jaiswal gave his take in the comments section of a Cricbuzz video on Instagram in which Bhogle discussed the altercation. Bhogle said Jaiswal should have walked away after Fernando's animated send-off, even if something had been said to provoke him.

 

Jaiswal offered a different view, saying players need to respond when an opponent crosses the line. The confrontation took place after Fernando dismissed Jaiswal on the opening morning, with the two exchanging words before making physical contact.

 

 

Both players were later fined 25% of their match fees and handed one demerit point.

What is the incident in question?

The incident occurred after Fernando dismissed Jaiswal with the final delivery of the 17th over on the first morning of the second Test in Colombo.

 

Jaiswal had made 45 off 53 balls and had struck Fernando for three boundaries earlier in the same over. He first played a straight drive, followed it with an upper cut over the slips and then pulled another delivery for four.

 

Fernando responded to the wicket with an animated send-off, gesturing towards the India opener to return to the pavilion.

 

Jaiswal initially continued walking towards the dressing room but then turned around and moved towards Fernando. The two exchanged words before coming face-to-face, after which their heads made contact. A push followed before Sri Lanka captain Dhananjaya de Silva intervened to separate them.

 

The exact words exchanged between the two players have not been made public. 

What did Jaiswal say in response to Bhogle's assessment?

Bhogle discussed the incident in a video posted by Cricbuzz on Instagram, saying he has never been a fan of send-offs but felt Jaiswal's response was unnecessary.

 

Check the full video here:

 

 

 

 

 

View this post on Instagram

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

A post shared by Cricbuzz (@cricbuzz)

 

Bhogle's view was that even if Fernando had said something that should not have been said, Jaiswal's best response would have been to walk away. He suggested that the India opener did not need to engage with the Sri Lankan pacer.

 

Jaiswal responded in the comments section of the Cricbuzz post, arguing that the incident could not be assessed without knowing what Fernando had said.

 

Jaiswal said that people should not make a judgement without knowing the full context. He added that when someone crosses the line, players need to let them know, while insisting that the Indian team would fight and respond.

 

Check Jaiswal’s comment on the video here:

 

Jaiswal's response to Harsha Bhogle

Indian batting coach Sitanshu Kotak responds to the clash

India batting coach Sitanshu Kotak had earlier suggested that something may have been said to Jaiswal during the confrontation.

 

Kotak said he believed the Sri Lankan players must have said something to the India opener in the heat of the moment. However, he also felt Jaiswal should not have moved so close to Fernando.

 

His assessment suggested that while there may have been provocation, Jaiswal's reaction still went too far.

Ajay Jadeja also gives his take on the incident

Former India cricketer Ajay Jadeja took a more critical view of the confrontation, particularly the physical contact between the two players.

 

Jadeja described that aspect of the incident as dangerous territory and also referred to Jaiswal's exchanges with Niroshan Dickwella during the first Test in Galle.

 

Sri Lanka fast-bowling coach Ryan van Niekerk, meanwhile, declined to comment on possible sanctions and said the matter should be left to match referee Andy Pycroft.

Jaiswal and Fernando sanctioned by ICC

Jaiswal and Fernando were both fined 25% of their match fees for inappropriate physical contact during the incident.

 

Both players also received one demerit point on their disciplinary records.

 

The ICC said the players had breached Article 2.12 of its Code of Conduct for Players and Player Support Personnel. Neither Jaiswal nor Fernando had committed a similar offence resulting in a demerit point during the previous 24 months.

What does the ICC rule state?

Article 2.12 covers inappropriate physical contact with another player, player support personnel, umpire, match referee or any other person during an international match.

 

The offence falls under the ICC's Level 1 category. Such breaches carry a minimum punishment of an official reprimand and can result in a fine of up to 50% of a player's match fee.

 

A player can also receive one or two demerit points depending on the nature of the offence.

 

In this case, both Jaiswal and Fernando were fined 25% of their match fees and received one demerit point each.