Team Sri Lanka fined 40% match fees for maintaining slow over-rate in 2nd T20I vs Australia

Sri Lanka have lost the T20I series against Australia after going down by three wickets in the second game at the R Premadasa Stadium in Colombo on June 8. Besides the loss, the home team captain Dasun Shanaka has been fined 40% of his match fees for maintaining a slow over-rate in the contest.

According to an International Cricket Council (ICC) media release, the hosts were ruled to be two overs short of the target after time allowances were taken into consideration. Apart from the skipper, even the players have lost 40% of their match earnings. As far as their on-field tactics are concerned, Sri Lanka failed to put pressure on the tail courtesy of a superb knock by Matthew Wade.

Sri Lankan captain and players docked 40% of their match fees

“Ranjan Madugalle of the Emirates ICC Elite Panel of Match Referees imposed the sanction after Dasun Shanaka’s side was ruled to be two overs short of the target after time allowances were taken into consideration,” said an ICC media release.

“In accordance with Article 2.22 of the ICC Code of Conduct for Players and Player Support Personnel, which relates to minimum over-rate offences, players are fined 20 percent of their match fee for every over their side fails to bowl in the allotted time,” the release clarified the ruling.

The release further added that Sri Lankan skipper Shanaka pleaded guilty to the offence and accepted the proposed sanction due to which there was no need for a formal hearing with the governing body of world cricket.

Meanwhile, the Lankans have now suffered three straight T20I series losses and this happened to be the fifth consecutive game in the shortest format where they found themselves at the receiving end. The worst thing for the 2014 T20 world champions is that they have suffered bitter defeats in the first two games.

Sri Lanka would now be hoping for a revival in fortunes in the inconsequential third and final T20I at the Pallekele International Cricket Stadium in Kandy on June 11.