Jaiswal and Fernando Fined by ICC After Colombo Test Head-Butt Incident
Yashasvi Jaiswal and Asitha Fernando each receive a fine and one demerit point for a Level 1 breach during the Colombo Test, with no suspension.
By SportCricket Desk · 24 Aug 2026 · 2 min read
India opener Yashasvi Jaiswal and Sri Lanka seamer Asitha Fernando have both been sanctioned by the ICC after a head-butt incident during the Colombo Test.
The ICC said both players admitted the offence and accepted the penalties handed down by Andy Pycroft of the ICC Elite Panel of Match Referees, so no formal hearing was needed.
The charge
The breach falls under Article 2.12 of the ICC Code of Conduct, which covers inappropriate physical contact with players, support staff, officials or other people during an international match.
It is a Level 1 offence, so the punishment is limited to a financial penalty and demerit points. It does not bring an automatic suspension.
One demerit point each
Neither player had any offences on record in the previous 24 months, so each begins with one demerit point.
Under ICC rules, a suspension only follows once a player reaches the required number of demerit points inside a rolling 24-month period.
That means neither Jaiswal nor Fernando faces a ban, and both remain available for the rest of the Colombo Test and the India-Sri Lanka series.
