Gabriel to miss second Test after breaching code of conduct

Shannon Gabriel will miss the second Test against Bangladesh
Shannon Gabriel will miss the second Test against Bangladesh

CHITTAGONG, Bangladesh,  CMC – Burly West Indies pacer Shannon Gabriel will not play in the second Test against Bangladesh following his latest breach of the International Cricket Council’s (ICC) code of conduct.

During the opening day’s play in the ongoing Chittagong Test against Bangladesh on Thursday, Gabriel was found guilty of breaching Article 2.12 of the ICC Code of Conduct for Players and Player Support Personnel, which 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”.

The incident happened in the eighth over of the Test when after bowling a delivery, Gabriel made inappropriate and deliberate physical contact with Bangladesh batsman Imrul Kayes. In the opinion of the umpires this physical contact was avoidable.

 Gabriel admitted to the offence yesterday morning and accepted the sanction proposed by David Boon of the Emirates ICC Elite Panel of Match Referees and, as such, there was no need for a formal hearing.

The charge was levelled by on-field umpires Aleem Dar and Richard Illingworth, third umpire Ruchira Palliyaguruge and fourth official Masudur Rahman.

It means that the 28-year-old Gabriel’s accumulated demerit points has reached five within a 24-month period  and he has been suspended for the second Test which is scheduled to begin in Mirpur from November 30 to December 4.

Gabriel had received a 50 per cent fine and three demerit points during the Jamaica Test against Pakistan in April 2017. With the addition of these two demerit points, he has reached the threshold of four demerit points, which, pursuant to article 7.6 of the Code, have now been converted into two suspension points.

Two suspension points equate to a ban from one Test or two ODIs or two T20Is, whatever comes first for the player or player support personnel, leading to his suspension from the second Test.