The International Cricket Federation (ICF) has sanctioned Indian bowler Mohammed Siraj for an overly enthusiastic expression of joy following the dismissal of England’s opening batter Ben Duckett on the fourth day of the third Test match at Lord’s. Siraj received a deduction of 15 percent from his match earnings and was given one demerit point for contravening Article 2.5 of the ICF Code of Conduct. This article addresses behaviors or signals that might incite a response from a batter who has been dismissed.
The episode unfolded when Siraj, during his follow-through motion after delivering the ball, approached Duckett closely and celebrated with considerable animation in close proximity to the batter’s face after taking his wicket. The ICF stated that the Indian fast bowler also made slight physical contact with Duckett as he was making his way back to the dressing room.
“This marks Siraj’s second infraction within a span of 24 months, which brings his total accumulation of demerit points to two,” the ICF statement indicated.
Stuart Broad criticizes the ICF’s penalty against Mohammed Siraj
Former England fast bowler Stuart Broad used social media to voice his disagreement with the sanction imposed upon Siraj, calling into question the consistency of the disciplinary actions taken by the governing body.
“I find this absurd. Siraj receives a 15% penalty for an exuberant celebration. Gill uses inappropriate language on live television and persists in doing so, yet nothing happens? It should be one way or the other. Players are not, nor should they be, robots, but uniformity is crucial,” Broad stated on X (previously known as Twitter).
Find this ridiculous. Siraj 15% for aggressive celebration. Gill swears live on tv & carries on and what? It’s either both or neither. Players aren’t and shouldn’t be robots but consistency is key https://t.co/5qtpxCmGZs
— Stuart Broad (@StuartBroad8) July 14, 2025
The seasoned bowler’s remarks are made within a broader context of discussions regarding player conduct, language used on television, and the point at which match officials determine a behaviour to be unsportsmanlike.
Also WATCH: ENG vs IND – Ravindra Jadeja and Brydon Carse collide mid-pitch in Lord’s Test; Ben Stokes steps in to defuse tension
India faces difficulty in the tight Lord’s Test conclusion
While the debate off the field continues, the tension on the field remains intense as India confronts a potential loss in the third Test. On the final day, India was struggling at 137 runs for the loss of 8 wickets, still requiring 56 runs to achieve a remarkable victory at the Home of Cricket. Despite significant efforts from Ravindra Jadeja and the team’s lower-order batsmen, England’s persistent bowling attack, spearheaded by Ben Stokes and Jofra Archer, has placed India in a precarious situation.
Also READ: ENG vs IND: Nasser Hussain makes big Virat Kohli claim after India suffers a collapse on Day 5 of Lord’s Test
