England vs India: Ishant Sharma fined for animated celebration after dismissing Dawid Malan

India fast bowler Ishant Sharma was on Saturday fined 15 percent of his match fees for his animated celebration after dismissing Dawid Malan in the 31^st over of the England second-innings on day three of the first Test at Edgbaston.

India lost the match by 31 runs despite coming agonizingly close after Sharma had helped bundle out England for 180 by taking five wickets, including three in the 31^st over.

“Ishant Sharma has been fined 15 percent of his match and has also received one demerit point after being found guilty of a Level 1 breach of the ICC Code of Conduct for Players and Player Support Personnel during the third day’s play,” said the ICC in a statement released on Saturday.

Coming to bowl in the 31^st over, Sharma first cramped David Malan and Ben Stokes (both left-handers) for room and both of them perished edging one to slips in the second and fourth ball of the over. Then returning after lunch, Ishant who had two balls left, got the wicket of Jos Buttler in a similar fashion in the final delivery of the over.

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The lanky pacer was found to have violated Article 2.1.7 of the cricket code, which states that “using language, actions or gestures which disparage or which could provoke an aggressive reaction from a batsman upon his/her dismissal during an international match,” is a violation of the code.

“Ishant after dismissing Malan celebrated with screams and hands high up in the air while being too close to the batsman, said the statement. “The incident in the view of the match officials had the potential to provoke an aggressive reaction from the departing batsman.”

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The charge was on Sharma was made by both the on-field umpires Aleem Dar and Chris Gaffaney, third umpire Marais Erasmus, and fourth umpire Tim Robinson.

“There was no need of formal hearing as Sharma accepted the sanction proposed by Jeff Crowe of the Elite Panel of ICC Match Referees,” added the statement.