The actions of Yashasvi Jaiswal and Vaibhav Sooryavanshi on the pitch have angered former Indian batsman Sanjay Manjrekar. On Day 1 of the current second Test between the two teams at the Sinhalese Sports Club, Jaiswal headbutted Sri Lanka pacer Asitha Fernando, while Sooryavanshi made headlines after colliding with a Sri Lanka A player during the June tri-series.
The ICC penalised Jaiswal 25% of his match money on Monday for his combative behaviour on the pitch, but he was spared a penalty.
Sanjay Manjrekar On Jaiswal And Sooryavanshi’s Conduct
The former cricketer turned commentator Manjrekar took to X to demand action from the ICC and BCCI on Wednesday, August 26. Manjrekar claims that if such acts go unpunished, the players might be encouraged to replicate the behaviour, which would be detrimental to both the sport and their own futures.
“Dear @icc & @bcci… Vaibhav for Ind A recently & now Jaiswal… if you keep letting them get away with such behaviour, you train them to repeat such behaviour. It’s not good for the sport & crucially their own future too,” Manjrekar tweeted.
The ICC punished pacer Asitha Fernando for his role in the altercation with the Indian batter during the morning session on the first day at the Sinhalese Sports Club, in addition to punishing for his combative behaviour on the pitch. Both of them have been fined 25 per cent of their match fee and have also been handed one demerit point each.
The Indian batter was agitated by Asitha’s violent celebration of Jaiswal’s ejection. Before his colleagues could separate the two players, Jaiswal turned around and charged at the Sri Lankan pacer.