Arundhati Reddy Reprimanded by ICC for Aggressive Send-Off to Nida Dar

Indian pacer Arundhati Reddy has been reprimanded by the International Cricket Council (ICC) for breaching the ICC Code of Conduct during the Women's T20 World Cup match against Pakistan. The incident occurred on October 7, 2024, in Dubai, where Reddy's team secured a crucial six-wicket win.

1. Incident and Penalty

Reddy was found to have breached Article 2.5 of the ICC Code of Conduct for using language, actions, or gestures that could provoke an aggressive reaction from a batter upon their dismissal during an international match. The ICC announced that Reddy had been reprimanded and received one demerit point, which is her first offense in a 24-month period.

The on-field umpires Eloise Sheridan and Lauren Agenbag, third umpire Jacquline Williams, and fourth umpire Claire Polosak leveled the charge against Reddy. Level 1 breaches carry a minimum penalty of an official reprimand, a maximum penalty of 50% of a player's match fee, and one or two demerit points.

Despite the reprimand, Reddy's impressive performance in the match earned her the Player of the Match award. She claimed three wickets for just 19 runs, significantly contributing to India's victory.

2. Reaction and Disciplinary Record

Reddy accepted the sanction and admitted to the offense. This incident marks her first breach of the ICC Code of Conduct within a 24-month period. The addition of one demerit point means that if she accumulates four or more demerit points within this timeframe, she could face suspension.

The 27-year-old pacer's aggressive send-off to Pakistan's Nida Dar in the final over of the Pakistan innings sparked controversy. The gesture was deemed inappropriate by the umpires and led to Reddy's reprimand.

3. Team's Performance and Future Challenges

Despite the win over Pakistan, India's Women in Blue are still struggling to qualify for the next round of the Women's T20 World Cup. Their next challenge will be against Sri Lanka, who beat them in the final of the Asia Cup earlier this year.

Speaking to Star Sports, Smriti Mandhana emphasized that every game is crucial for the team. She highlighted that while Sri Lanka is a good team in their group, they cannot afford to make errors against Australia. Mandhana expressed excitement about facing Australia and emphasized the need to perform at their best to secure a win.

The Women's T20 World Cup continues to be a competitive tournament with teams vying for every point. India's performance will be closely watched as they navigate through the challenging group stage.

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