-(1).jpeg?ssl=1)
BCCI secretary Devajit Saikia has clarified that the board will not take disciplinary action against Vaibhav Sooryavanshi over the controversy that erupted during the India A vs Sri Lanka A match in Dambulla on Monday, June 15.
The incident occurred after India A failed to chase an 18-run target in the Super Over. As Sooryavanshi and Suryansh Shedge, the two batters in the Super Over, were returning to the dressing room, a verbal exchange broke out between them and the Sri Lanka A players. Sooryavanshi reportedly lost his temper and shoved Sri Lankan player Vishen Halambage.
Reports later emerged that Halambage had been sledging the 15-year-old not only during this match but also in the previous India A vs Sri Lanka A game on June 9.
Match referee Pradeep Jeyaprakashdaran, who officiated the Super Over contest, fined Halambage and also sanctioned Niroshan Dickwella, who was involved in an attempt to restore order during the confrontation.
Saikia said the BCCI has no role in deciding penalties for on-field incidents, as that authority rests with the match referee and umpires.
Speaking to Hindustan Times, Saikia said speculation about possible action by the BCCI was baseless. He stressed that the board cannot interfere in matters that fall within the jurisdiction of match officials.
“The BCCI does not have the authority to take any action or interfere with the conduct of a game,” Saikia said. “Whatever happened was part of the game and, under BCCI rules and ICC regulations, the board has no role to play in such matters. The responsibility lies with the match referee.”
He added that if an incident occurs on the field, the match referee and umpires are the appropriate officials to address it under the existing system.
The BCCI had previously taken action against Hardik Pandya and KL Rahul after controversial comments made on the talk show Koffee with Karan. However, Saikia noted that the Sooryavanshi incident occurred during the course of play, making it a matter for the match referee rather than the board.
