Dhawal Kulkarni fined for send-off to Australia A opener during final of the quadrangular series
Dhawal Kulkarni, the medium pacer for India A, has been fined 25 percent of his match fee after giving a send-off to Australia A opener, Kurtis Patterson. The incident has emerged only a few days after two South African A cricketers were charged with dissent for showing disapproval and disrespect to the umpire’s call in the same tournament.
Kurtis Patterson was dismissed by Kulkarni in the final of the recently concluded quadrangular tournament in Mackay, New South Wales while playing a pull shot. Exclusive images of what followed next were captured, which showed Kulkarni in breach of article 2.7 of International Cricket Council's Code of Conduct – which deals with action against using unsavory language or gestures which could cause an aggressive reaction by the dismissed batsman.
A game of cricket asks for gentlemanly behavior from its players. The ICC has written and enforced several codes of conduct that have been violated time and again in the history of the game, owing to the heat of the moment. Under the ICC regulations, players may be fined a percentage of the salary, banned for a number of matches, or even banned for a number of years or life.
The tournament saw four other players breach the ICC’s code of conduct. Previously, India A captain Manish Pandey, South Africa A pair of Tabraiz Shamsi and Qaasim Adams and National Performance Squad batsman Matthew Renshaw, had all been found guilty of charges.
It seems evident from the tournament that the young lot of players find it difficult to resist their heated temperament on the pitch. Skipper Manish Pandey was found to have breached Article 2.1.5, which relates to showing dissent at an umpire's decision during an international match.
South Africa’s Shamsi and Qaasim were also found guilty under the same article for similar violations. Each of them was fined the same percentage of match fee as Kulkarni.
The tourists won the final by 57 runs, with Dhawal, one of India A’s consistent performers in the tournament, finishing with 2-22 from seven overs. The hearing was instituted post the game where Kulkarni pleaded guilty of the charge - which meant no further action was required.
India A are currently headed to Brisbane where they will take on Australia A in two four-day matches at Allan Border Field, the first of which starts on Thursday.