Indian pacer Mohammed Siraj was fined 20 per cent of his match fee, while Australian batter Travis Head was also “sanctioned” by the ICC for indulging in a heated exchange of words during the just-concluded day-night Test in Adelaide. Siraj and Head were held guilty of breaching the world body’s code of conduct following a disciplinary hearing on Monday. “Siraj has been penalised 20 per cent of his match fee after being found guilty of breaching article 2.5 of the ICC Code of Conduct for Players and Player Support Personnel,” the ICC said in a statement.

The cited rule relates to “using language, actions or gestures which disparage or which could provoke an aggressive reaction from a batter upon dismissal.” The ICC said Head too was “sanctioned” for breaching Article 2.13 of the ICC Code of Conduct for Players and Player Support Personnel.

However, he escaped a fine for breaching the rule that relates to the “abuse of a player, player support personnel, umpire or match referee during an international match.” Siraj and Head also received one demerit point each on their disciplinary records, marking their first offence in the last 24 months.

“Both admitted their offences and accepted the sanctions proposed by Match Referee Ranjan Madugalle,” the ICC said.

Head and Siraj had a brief showdown on day two of the match that Australia won by 10 wickets on Sunday. Head had struck a splendid 141-ball knock of 140 before being castled by Siraj, who went on to give him an aggressive send-off following an exchange of words.

The Indian endured booes from the Adelaide crowd following the confrontation.

Head later claimed that he had merely said “well bowled” to Siraj and that he was disappointed at how the visiting bowler had responded. Siraj disputed that claim, asserting that Head had abused him.

“I only celebrated and he abused me and you saw that on TV too. I only celebrated at the start, I didn’t say anything to him,” Siraj told broadcaster ‘Star Sports’.

“What he said in the press conference wasn’t right, it’s a lie that he only said ‘well bowled’ to me. It’s there for everyone to see that that’s not what he said to me.” Head also acknowledged his role in the incident.

“There was no confrontation leading up to him and I felt like it was probably, yeah, a little bit far at the time, and that’s why I am disappointed in the reaction that I gave back,” he said in a post-play press conference.

The two teams are tied 1-1 in the five-match series.

(Except for the headline, this story has not been edited by NDTV staff and is published from a syndicated feed.)

India’s iconic 1983 World Cup-winning captain Kapil Dev has expressed his willingness to assist former cricketer Vinod Kambli, provided the Mumbai star takes the initiative to address his struggles. Kambli represented India in 17 Tests and 104 One-Day Internationals between 1991 and 2000, amassing 3,561 runs across both formats. Kapil Dev emphasised the importance of self-help as a starting point for meaningful rehabilitation. Speaking at the launch of the Vishwa Samudra Open, Kapil Dev, also the president of the Professional Golf Tour of India (PGTI), said, “We are all (there) to support him. Sunil Gavaskar has already told me on behalf of the 1983 World Cup-winning team, and I extend my help on my behalf, but more than me trying to support him, he should support himself. We can’t look after him if he does not want to look after himself,” Kapil Dev said on Monday.

Kapil’s statement comes amidst growing concerns over Kambli’s deteriorating health and well-being, which has saddened the cricketing fraternity. Known for his swashbuckling batting style in the 1990s, Kambli now finds himself in a fragile state, physically and emotionally.

The emotional appeal coincided with a video that surfaced at an event commemorating the legacy of coach Ramakant Achrekar, a mentor to both Kambli and Sachin Tendulkar. The footage showed Kambli, 52, frail and visibly thinner, leaning on Tendulkar for support. At one point, he struggled to sing, his slurred speech betraying his condition.

The cricketing fraternity, including the 1983 World Cup-winning team recently extended its collective support. Gavaskar assured, “What the ’83 team wants to do is take care of him. We want to take care of Vinod Kambli and help him get back on his feet.”

Kambli and Tendulkar both studied at the Shardashram Vidyamandir school in Mumbai and attended the nets organised by Achrekar. Kambli, 17, and Tendulkar, 16, shared a world-record unbroken partnership of 664 against St Xavier’s High School in the Harris Shield semifinal in 1988.

Showing no signs of rust, Mohammed Shami carried Bengal to the quarterfinals of the Syed Mushtaq Ali Trophy by smashing a game-changing 17-ball-32 and bowling 13 dot balls in his four overs that paved way for his team’s thrilling three-run win against Chandigarh Bengaluru on Monday. With no clarity over his international comeback, the 34-year-old played his eighth SMAT T20 game in 16 days and has bowled his full quota in almost all the games. On the day, he first used long handle to a good effect, taking 19 runs off seasoned Sandeep Sharma’s final over as Bengal reached 159 for 9 after tottering at 114 for 8.

He crunched two sixes and three fours, mostly flashing through point region but the final wicket stand of 21 off 10 balls with Sayan Ghosh proved crucial.

Veteran Kolkata Maidan slinger Ghosh (4/30), who is known to be a death overs specialist, bowled a brilliant final over where 11 runs were required as Nikhil Sharma’s planning went all awry. Chandigarh were restricted to 156 for 9.

Shami looked bowling fit

Having already warmed up nicely by facing 17 deliveries, Shami bowled a very good first spell and removed opener Arsalan Z Khan off the very third delivery, caught by Shakir Habib Gandhi.

Compared to his first Ranji Trophy game against Madhya Pradesh where he looked overweight and slightly paunchy despite bowling 42 overs, Monday’s Shami looked leaner and the famous upright seam presentation was very much there.

During the Ranji match, many experts debated how his follow-through, which is pretty straight post delivery, was ending towards cover which is an indication that he was unable to complete his action.

But on Monday, the follow-through looked way more straighter than that comeback game.

He bowled at an average speed of 135 clicks with one delivery cranking in the range of 139 kmph. During the first spell of three overs, he went for only 11 runs which included one lofted boundary by Manan Vohra and a streaky four by Amrit Lal Lubana, who was hurried into a stroke that became a Chinese cut.

In the final over which was the penultimate of the innings, he was picked for a boundary and a six when he tried a slowish off-break which was picked by Jagjit Singh Sandhu.

In all, Shami has now played nine domestic games — one Ranji Trophy (42.3 overs) and eight SMAT T20 games (31.3 over). He has bowled a total of 64 overs and taken 16 wickets.

Is Shami fit for Test level?

He looks pretty much on course even though it is a four-over format but in a Test match as a premier bowling partner of Jasprit Bumrah, he would be expected to bowl at least three if not four spells of 20 overs in a day on an average. He would also need to field 100 overs.

It is believed that national selectors are willing to pick him as and when he is deemed fit but there is a discussion in the BCCI corridors that the veteran speedster himself has told the NCA medical team that “he is still not Test match ready”.

He has been telling his assessors that he has no problems while bowling but feels a bit of swelling in his knee after matches, something that Test skipper Rohit Sharma also mentioned in his media interaction after losing the Adelaide Test.

(Except for the headline, this story has not been edited by NDTV staff and is published from a syndicated feed.)