Melbourne, Dec 26 (UNI) Former Indian skipper Virat Kohli has been fined 20 percent of his match fee and awarded one demerit point for breaching Level 1 of the ICC Code of Conduct on day one of the Boxing Day Test match against Australia here on Thursday.
The incident occurred at the end of the 10th over of the hosts’ first innings when Kohli bumped the Australia debutant Sam Konstas’s shoulder, which led to a heated exchange between the two players. The other Australian opener Usman Khawaja was seen trying to mediate between them.
Article 2.12 of the ICC Code of Conduct relates to “inappropriate physical contact with a Player, Player Support Personnel, Umpire, Match Referee or any other person (including a spectator during an International Match,” according to a International Cricket Council (ICC) statement.
No formal hearing was needed as Kohli accepted the sanctions propOsed by Match Referee Andy Pycroft. On-field umpires Joel Wilson and Michael Gough, third umpire Sharfuddoula Ibne Shahid and fourth umpire Shawn Craig levelled the charge.
Kohli’s conduct drew the ire of several experts, including former Australia captain Ricky Ponting.
“Virat walked one whole pitch over to his right and instigated that confrontation,” Ponting said on the host broadcaster in Australia Channel Seven.
“I have no doubt that the umpires and the referee will have a good look at that. Fielders should be nowhere near the batsman at that stage. Every fieldsman on the ground knows where the batsmen will congregate and get together.
“It looked to me that Konstas looked up really late, wouldn’t even know anyone is in front of him. That man on-screen there (Kohli) might have a few questions to answer,” said Ponting, under whose captaincy Australia win the World Cup in 2003
Former India coach Ravi Shastri also disapproved of the senior player’s conduct, stating: “There is a line, and you don’t want to overstep that line.”
Konstas, who had a fantastic Test debut as he slammed 60 off 65 balls, hitting six fours and two sixes in his flamboyant knock – was asked about the incident during the post-day press conference and played down the significance.
“I was just doing my gloves, and I think he accidentally bumped me,” Konstas said.
“I think that is just cricket, just the tension and I think for me just having that freedom and backing myself and trying to bring the best version and I was lucky enough to get a few runs today.”
