Rishabh Pant is having an exceptional game in Headingley, where he has become the second wicket-keeper batter after Andy Flower to register twin tons in a Test match. He is also only the seventh Indian to achieve this feat and the first since Virat Kohli in 2014. However, the 27-year-old has run into some trouble with the officials due to an on-field incident during England's first innings.
At multiple points during the third day, India's bowlers were keen on getting the ball replaced as they were unhappy with its shape. The umpires, as is the norm, duly performed the gauge tests and were happy to proceed each time, much to the visitors' frustration. Pant, also the vice-captain of the side, led the side's protests for ball change many times and on one occasion, lost his cool at umpire Paul Reiffel. The Australian official had just done another gauge test and gestured Pant and co. to get on with the game, while handing the ball back to the keeper.
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Pant, visibly upset, responded with an angry grimace and flung the ball back onto the ground before walking away. The incident didn't escape the match referee's attention, and reports suggest that the left-hand batter is set to face disciplinary action for showing dissent on the cricket field. Reiffel, along with his colleague Chris Gaffaney, third umpire Sharfuddoula, and fourth umpire Mike Burns, decided to take up the matter with match referee Richie Richardson collectively. As Pant chose not to challenge the charges, there was no need for an official hearing.
According to the ICC Code of Conduct rules, Pant has been charged under Article 2.8, which pertains to 'showing dissent at an umpire's decision during an international match'. It has been considered a Level 1 offence, and Pant has also been given one demerit point, as it is his first such offence in the last 24 months.
For a Level 1 offence, the player is liable to receive one or two demerit points, depending on their recent history, and can be fined up to 50 per cent of their match fees, as well as receive an official reprimand from the officials.
