West Indies bowlers Jayden Seales and Kevin Sinclair have come under heavy scrutiny by the ICC for violating their Code of Conduct in the recently concluded second Test at Sabina Park. 

Seales, the Trinidad-born right-arm quick bowler has been fined 25% of his match fees after being proven guilty of breaching article 2.20 of the ICC Code of Conduct for Players and Player Support Personnel which relates to “conduct that is contrary to the spirit of the game.”

His Guyanese counterpart Sinclair has been charged 15% of his match fees after being proven guilty of contravening Article 2.4 of the ICC Code of Conduct for Players and Player Support Personnel, which relates to “Disobeying an Umpire’s instruction during an International Match.”

See also: Bangladesh create history in Sabina Park, Register their maiden Test win in the Caribbean since 2009

The incidents that prompted ICC to take swift action

During the first over of Bangladesh’s second batting innings, Seales was seen making an inappropriate and rather offensive gesture to the visitors' dressing room after picking up a wicket. 

Sinclair too did not evade scrutiny as he visibly ignored instructions from the on-field umpires who strictly cautioned him against using foul language. 

Both players have one demerit point added to their respective disciplinary records following the unpleasant on-field altercation. 

What happened next?

Both Seales and Sinclair accepted their respective offenses and agreed to a list of stringent measures proposed by Jeff Crowe of the Emirates ICC Elite Panel of Match Referees. Hence, no formal hearing was necessary as both WI players agreed to the charges imposed on them. 

On-field umpires Asif Yaqoob and Kumar Dharmasena, third umpire Nitin Menon, and fourth umpire, Zahid Bassarath played a pivotal role in identifying the wrongdoing of the players and bringing them to justice by introducing appropriate sanctions. 

It is worth noting that a Level 1 breach carries a minimum penalty of an official reprimand, a maximum penalty of 50 percent of a player’s match fee, and one or two demerit points. But when a player records four or more demerit points in a two-year period, then those points are converted into suspension points, and the player is subsequently banned.