Ace Sri Lanka all-rounder Wanindu Hasaranga could be available for the initial few games for Sunrisers Hyderabad in the Indian Premier League after he was suspended from the upcoming two-Test series against Bangladesh by the ICC. Hasaranga had come out of retirement from Tests on Tuesday. He was roped in by SRH at his base price of Rs 1.5 crore.
Hasaranga, who had retired from Tests in August last year, was named in Sri Lanka's 17-man squad for the two-Test series against Bangladesh starting on Friday.
Hasaranga's suspension explained
But the ICC informed that the 26-year-old has 'breached the threshold of eight demerit points, which, pursuant to article 7.6 of the Code, have been converted into four suspension points' in his latest offence during the third ODI.
"Hasaranga was found guilty of breaching article 2.8 of the ICC Code of Conduct for Players and Player Support Personnel, which relates to 'showing dissent at an Umpire's decision during an International Match'," the ICC said on its website.
The incident happened in the 37th over when the right-arm spinner "snatched his cap" from one of the on-field umpires and also "ridiculed" the umpiring in the contest, the ICC said.
"He received a 50 per cent fine and accumulated three demerit points for his offense. This brought his total demerit points to eight in a 24-month period," the ICC said.
Hasaranga already had five demerit points three of which were docked in the third T20I against Afghanistan in Dambulla last month. He was also suspended for two T20Is against Bangladesh.
"Now, with the addition of the latest demerit points, he has breached the threshold of eight demerit points, which, pursuant to article 7.6 of the Code, have been converted into four suspension points," the ICC said.
"The four suspension points equate to a ban from two Tests or four ODIs or T20Is, whatever comes first Hasaranga will therefore miss the two ICC World Test Championship Tests against Bangladesh," the governing body added.
T20 World Cup and 'Sri Lankan strategy' theory
However, there is another side to the story, many media reports pointed out. Had Hasaranga not come out of retirement for the Tests, he would have missed Sri Lanka's first four games at the T20 World Cup, ESPN CricInfo pointed out.
However, SLC maintains that Hasaranga had informed them of his desire to make a comeback into the game's longer format on March 16, citing his improved fitness levels.
As per the IPL schedule announced for the first two weeks, SRH will take on Kolkata Knight Riders on March 23 in Kolkata. They will travel to Hyderabad for the tie against Mumbai Indians on March 27 and then proceed to Ahmedabad for the game against Gujarat Titans on March 31.
- With PTI inputs
