Pandya sanctioned for celebrating aggressively

Melbourne, Jan 28 :  India all-rounder Hardik Pandya was on Thursday sanctioned by the Intertiol Cricket Council (ICC) for celebrating aggressively after claiming Australian Chris Lynn’s wicket in the first Twenty20 Intertiol match in Adelaide.

Pandya, who made his India debut in the match on Tuesday, was pelised for celebration following his maiden wicket in T20. The visitors won the match by 37 runs to take a 1-0 lead in the three-match series.

He was sanctioned under the clause which relates to “using language, actions or gestures which disparage or which could provoke an aggressive reaction from a batsman upon his/her dismissal during an Intertiol Match”, the ICC said.

In the 16th over of Australia’s ultimately unsuccessful run-chase, Lynn had dispatched Pandya for a monster 107-metre straight six into the Adelaide Oval stands.

On the last ball of that over, Lynn smashed a wide delivery that stung the hands of fielder Yuvraj Singh who yet completed the catch, sparking Pandya’s wild celebration.

The Gujarat-born was given an official reprimand. The on-field umpires Simon Fry and John Ward levelled the charge against Pandya and ICC match referee Jeff Crowe imposed the sanction. IANS