Archive · 24 Aug 2026
Jaiswal, Fernando Fined After Heated Colombo Test Altercation
Yashasvi Jaiswal and Asitha Fernando argued during a cricket match in Colombo.
Fernando had just dismissed Jaiswal and gave him an animated send-off.
Jaiswal turned around and walked back toward Fernando.
The two exchanged words and their heads made contact.
Other players quickly separated them.
The ICC said this broke a rule against inappropriate physical contact.
Each player was fined 25 percent of his match fee and received one demerit point.
Neither player was suspended, and both accepted the punishment.
Jaiswal said people should not judge the incident without knowing what Fernando had said.
Yashasvi Jaiswal and Asitha Fernando were each fined 25% of their match fees and given one demerit point.
The incident occurred during the 17th over after Fernando dismissed Jaiswal for 45 in Colombo.
The players exchanged words and made head-to-head contact before teammates intervened.
The ICC found both players guilty of a Level 1 breach of Article 2.12 concerning inappropriate physical contact.
Both players admitted the offences and accepted sanctions proposed by match referee Andy Pycroft, avoiding formal hearings.
- Who
- India batter Yashasvi Jaiswal and Sri Lanka fast bowler Asitha Fernando were sanctioned by the International Cricket Council.
- What
- Both players received a 25% match-fee fine and one demerit point after an on-field confrontation involving head-to-head contact.
- When
- The incident happened during the 17th over on the opening day of the second Test; the ICC sanctions were confirmed afterward.
- Where
- The confrontation took place at the Sinhalese Sports Club in Colombo, Sri Lanka.
- Why
- The ICC found that both players breached Article 2.12 of its Code of Conduct by making inappropriate physical contact during an international match.
Jaiswal's Context
Accountability For Contact
What triggered the confrontation
Jaiswal's Context
Jaiswal said people should not judge the incident without knowing what Fernando had said, suggesting that the verbal context mattered.
Accountability For Contact
Commentator Harsha Bhogle argued that Jaiswal could have walked away after being dismissed.
Responsibility for approaching
Jaiswal's Context
Reports described Fernando's animated send-off or possible remarks as contributing to Jaiswal's reaction, and Jaiswal said Fernando had crossed the line.
Accountability For Contact
India batting coach Sitanshu Kotak said something may have been said to Jaiswal but acknowledged that Jaiswal should not have moved so close to Fernando.
Physical contact
Jaiswal's Context
Accounts differ over the precise movement leading to contact: some say Fernando moved his head toward Jaiswal, while others describe Jaiswal as walking up or bumping heads with him.
Accountability For Contact
The ICC held both players responsible for inappropriate physical contact and imposed identical penalties.
- Penalty
- Jaiswal and Fernando were each fined 25% of their match fee and given one demerit point.
- Dismissal
- Fernando dismissed Jaiswal for 45 during the 17th over of India's first innings.
- Incident
- The players exchanged words and made head-to-head contact before players from both teams intervened.
- ICC rule
- Article 2.12 covers inappropriate physical contact with players, officials, support personnel, or other people during an international match.
- Disciplinary process
- Both players admitted the breaches and accepted sanctions proposed by match referee Andy Pycroft, so no formal hearings were held.
- Previous record
- Neither player had committed an offence or received a demerit point in the preceding 24 months.
- Reported fine amount
- One report calculated Jaiswal's 25% fine as ₹3.75 lakh, based on a reported ₹15 lakh Test-match fee.
Sources
2nd Test: Jaiswal, Fernando penalised after on-field altercation in Colombo
Yashasvi Jaiswal, Asitha Fernando fined 25% match fee for Colombo Test altercation
Yashasvi Jaiswal, Asitha Fernando punished by ICC for 2nd Test Day 1 altercation
ICC Punishes Yashasvi Jaiswal, Asitha Fernando After Controversial Fight During IND vs SL 2nd Test
IND vs SL: Yashasvi Jaiswal, Asitha Fernando Hit With ICC Sanctions After Tempers Flare In Colombo
Jaiswal, Fernando Sanctioned By ICC For On-Field Incident During Second Test
IND vs SL: ICC penalises Jaiswal, Asitha Fernando after Colombo Test altercation
