Former India batter Sanjay Manjrekar has urged the ICC and BCCI to take a firmer approach towards on-field conduct after Yashasvi Jaiswal and Sri Lanka pacer Asitha Fernando were sanctioned for their confrontation during the ongoing second Test in Colombo.
Manjrekar raised the issue on social media, pointing to a similar incident involving teenage India batter Vaibhav Sooryavanshi during India A’s tour of Sri Lanka.
“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 posted on X.
Jaiswal and Fernando were fined 25 per cent of their respective match fees and handed one demerit point after admitting to breaching Article 2.12 of the ICC Code of Conduct, which covers inappropriate physical contact during an international match.
The incident took place during the 17th over of India’s innings on the opening day at the Sinhalese Sports Club. Fernando dismissed Jaiswal before the India opener approached the pacer and the pair exchanged words. Fernando then moved his head towards Jaiswal, with the resulting movement leading to head-to-head contact.
As both players admitted the offence and accepted the proposed sanctions from ICC Elite Panel of Match Referees member Andy Pycroft, no formal hearing was required.
Manjrekar’s reference to Sooryavanshi stems from an India A-Sri Lanka A match in Dambulla on June 15. Following a tense Super Over defeat for India A, Sooryavanshi and Sri Lanka A player Vishen Halambage were involved in a heated exchange as the teams left the field.
The players were seen shoving each other before Sri Lanka wicketkeeper Niroshan Dickwella intervened.
The latest incident involving on player behaviour, particularly involving younger cricketers coming through the international pathway.
While neither player had committed an offence in the previous 24 months, both now have a demerit point on their disciplinary records.
Manjrekar’s central concern was that leniency over such incidents could allow confrontational behaviour to become normalised among emerging players, with consequences for both the sport and their careers.