Gurnoor Brar has been handed one demerit point after being found guilty of a Level 1 breach of the ICC Code of Conduct during the ODI series opener against England in Birmingham.
The India pacer admitted the offence and accepted the sanction proposed by Richie Richardson of the Emirates ICC Elite Panel of Match Referees. The incident came in the eighth over of England’s innings, when Brar threw the ball towards the batter. The ICC classifies that type of action as throwing a ball at or near a player in an inappropriate and or dangerous manner during an international match.
What the sanction means
Level 1 breaches can result in an official reprimand, a fine of up to 50 per cent of a player’s match fee, and one or two demerit points. In Brar’s case, the sanction was one demerit point, which became his first offence in a 24-month period.
The ruling is a relatively small punishment in the broader context of a match, but it still matters because demerit points stay on a player’s disciplinary record for the next two years. That means Brar will want to avoid any repeat issues as India move deeper into the three-match series.
India later took a 1-0 lead with a six-wicket win over the hosts, and the two teams were scheduled to next meet on Thursday, July 16. For Brar, the focus now shifts back to cricket, with the disciplinary mark serving as an early reminder that even brief moments of frustration can bring formal consequences.
