India pacer Khaleel Ahmed has been officially warned and awarded a demerit point for his send-off to West Indies batsman Marlon Samuels during the fourth ODI between the two side at Mumbai on Monday.
The left-armed pacer earned rave reviews for his figures of 3-13 in India’s 224-run win over the visitors. Getting the ball to swing at pace, Khaleel accounted for Shimron Hetmyer, Samuels and Rovman Powell in a destructive spell as the Windies were bundled out for 153.
The fast bowler was sanctioned for aggressively advancing towards Samuel after having the batsman caught in the slips during the 14th over.
The 20-year-old was found guilty of breaching Level 1 of ICC Code of Conduct for Players and Player Support Personnel.
India's Khaleel Ahmed has received an official warning and one demerit point for advancing aggressively towards Marlon Samuels after dismissing him in yesterday's #INDvWI ODI.
— ICC (@ICC) October 30, 2018
➡️ https://t.co/SX0AjwhtL3 pic.twitter.com/Z5fq98uDtM
The charge against the player was brought forward by on-field umpires Ian Gould and Anil Chaudhary, third umpire Paul Wilson and fourth umpire Chettithody Shamsuddin.
The Indian pacer admitted to the offence after the match and accepted the sanction proposed by match referee Chris Broad with no formal hearing being required for the matter.
Khaleel’s Monday display saw him earn comparisons to former India left-armed pacer Irfan Pathan for his ability to swing the ball late into the right-handers.
The youngster will now be hoping to carry on that momentum when India take on the visitors in the final match of the series at Thiruvanathapuram on Thursday. Virat Kohli’s men currently lead the five-match series 2-1.
