Sri Lanka spinner Prabath Jayasuriya has become the third player sanctioned for an incident during the second ICC World Test Championship contest against India in Colombo, after he was found to have breached Article 2.2 of the ICC Code of Conduct for Players and Player Support Personnel.

The clause relates to “abuse of cricket equipment or clothing, ground equipment or fixtures and fittings during an International Match.” Jayasuriya received an official reprimand and had one demerit point added to his disciplinary record — his first offence in a 24-month period.

The incident occurred after Jayasuriya was dismissed on the final delivery of the day on Monday (August 24), when he struck the boundary wedges with his bat on his way back to the pavilion. The left-arm spinner admitted the offence and accepted the sanction proposed by match referee Andy Pycroft.

On-field umpires Ahsan Raza and Sharfuddoula Ibne Shahid, third umpire Rod Tucker and fourth umpire Prageeth Rambukwella levelled the charge.

A Test already under the microscope

Jayasuriya is now the third player from the Colombo Test to be sanctioned by the ICC, following the 25% match-fee penalties handed to Yashasvi Jaiswal and Asitha Fernando for their involvement in an ugly confrontation on the opening day of the game.

The on-field altercation saw the pair also pick up a demerit point apiece. The incident occurred in the 17th over of India's first innings, after Fernando dismissed Jaiswal. The India batter walked towards his opponent, the two exchanged words, and Fernando then moved his head towards Jaiswal. In response, Jaiswal leant in, resulting in their heads making contact.

The series of sanctions highlights the simmering tension that has run through a fiercely contested match, with the match officials moving quickly to keep discipline in check across both camps.