ICC Penalizes 3 Bangladeshi, 2 Indian Players

Three Bangladesh players and two of their Indian opponents have been charged by the International Cricket Council after unsavory scenes following the U-19 World Cup final Sunday at Senwes Park in Potchefstroom, South Africa.

Bangladesh claimed their maiden global trophy with a three-wicket victory on Duckworth/Lewis/Stern method before tensions spilled over between the two sides.

Towhid Hridoy, Shamim Hossain and Rakibul Hasan, who struck the winning run, were all found guilty of a Level 3 breach of the ICC Code of Conduct for the newly-crowned champions, while Indians Akash Singh and Ravi Bishnoi were also sanctioned.

All five players have accepted the sanctions proposed by U-19 World Cup match referee Graeme Labrooy.

All charges were leveled by on-field umpires Sam Nogajski and Adrian Holdstock, third umpire Ravindra Wimalasiri as well as fourth umpire Patrick Bongni Jele.

Towhid, Shamim and Akash were all handed six demerit points, with Rakibul and Bishnoi given five for the post-match incidents.

Bishnoi, the tournament's leading wicket-taker, was slapped with a further two demerit points for using "language, actions or gestures which disparage or which could provoke an aggressive reaction from a batter" after dismissing Avishek Das.

All of these demerit points will remain in the five players' records for two years.

Geoff Allardice, ICC general manager, Cricket said: ''The match was hard-fought, as you would expect in an ICC U-19 Cricket World Cup final, but the elation and disappointment experienced by some players after the game spilled over into unedifying scenes that have no place in our sport. Respect is at the very heart of the spirit of cricket, and players are expected to show self-discipline, congratulate the opposition on their successes and enjoy the success of their own team.''

''It is disappointing that Code of Conduct charges needed to be laid after such a closely contested match, but it is important to reinforce the standard of behavior that will be expected of these young players should they transition to senior international cricket.''

The suspension points will be applied to the forthcoming international matches the players are most likely to participate in at either senior or U-19 level. 

One suspension point equals a player being ineligible for one ODI or T20I, U-19 or A team international match.