New Delhi: As expected, Indian bowler Mohammed Siraj and Australian batter Travis Head are likely to be penalized for their clash on Day 2 of the second Test at Adelaide Oval. After dismissing Head, Siraj gave him a send-off, which led to a verbal exchange between the two. Both players have shared different versions of what was said, causing reactions across the cricketing world. Reports now say that the International Cricket Council (ICC) plans to penalize Siraj and Head for their actions.
Although neither player is expected to be suspended for the on-field incident in Adelaide, both are likely to face fines as sanctions.
A report in *The Daily Telegraph* states that both players have been found guilty by the ICC, and the sanctions will be announced after a disciplinary hearing scheduled for today.
“It probably (went) a little bit far; that’s why I’m disappointed in the reaction I gave back, but I’m also going to stand up for myself. Like to think in our team, we wouldn’t do that. [It’s] not the way I’d like to play the game and feel like my teammates are the same. If I see that, I probably call it out, which I did,” Head said during the press conference.
Siraj explained his reaction to the incident, saying, “When you get hit for a six on a good ball, it fires you up differently. And when I got him bowled, I only celebrated, and he abused me, and you saw that on TV, too,” during an interview with Star Sports. He added, “I only celebrated at the start; I didn’t say anything to him. What he said in the press conference wasn’t right, it’s a lie that he only said ‘well bowled’ to me. It’s there for everyone to see that that’s not what he said to me. We respect everyone; it’s not like we disrespect other players. I respect everybody because cricket is a gentleman’s game, but what he did wasn’t right. I didn’t like it at all.”
When Siraj came out to bat on Day 3 of the pink-ball Test, he and Head had a brief conversation in the middle about the incident, where they reportedly resolved their differences. After the match ended, the two exchanged a hug, which was warmly received by fans on social media.
