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The International Cricket Council (ICC) has reprimanded West Indies captain Rovman Powell and batter Sherfane Rutherford for separate breaches of its Code of Conduct during the second T20I against India in Ranchi on October 9. Both players have also received one demerit point following incidents during the visitors' successful run-chase.
The disciplinary action came after West Indies chased down India's 250-run target to win by six wickets with nine balls remaining. Shai Hope and Rutherford played crucial roles in the victory, which levelled the five-match T20I series at 1-1.
West Indies pulled off a historic run-chase in Ranchi T20I
India posted 249/5 in their 20 overs after being asked to bat first. Sanju Samson led the scoring with 82 off 41 balls, while Ishan Kishan contributed 43 off 22 deliveries. Tilak Varma remained unbeaten on 44 from 18 balls, helping India finish with a formidable total.
West Indies responded with 252/4 in 18.3 overs, completing the chase with six wickets in hand. Hope remained unbeaten on 102 off 45 balls, striking six fours and nine sixes. Rutherford provided support with 84 from 37 deliveries, including seven fours and seven sixes, while Romario Shepherd scored an unbeaten 34 off 13 balls.
The result gave West Indies a significant victory in the series and earned Hope the Player of the Match award. However, the innings also featured disciplinary incidents involving Powell and Rutherford, which were addressed by the ICC after the game.
Rovman Powell and Sherfane Rutherford handed demerit points by ICC
According to the ICC's October 12 release, Powell breached Article 2.2 of the Code of Conduct, which covers the abuse of cricket equipment or clothing, ground equipment, or fixtures and fittings during an international match. Rutherford was charged under Article 2.8, concerning dissent at an umpire's decision.
Powell's incident occurred in the sixth over of the West Indies innings. After Mayank Yadav bowled him, the West Indies captain struck the ball away with his bat. Rutherford's offence came in the 13th over, when he reacted aggressively towards the umpire after a delivery he considered wide was judged legitimate.
Both players accepted the charges and the sanctions proposed by match referee Prakash Bhatt. As a result, formal hearings were not required. Each player received an official reprimand and one demerit point, their first offence within a 24-month period.
The charges were levelled by on-field umpires Jayaraman Madanagopal and Rohan Pandit, third umpire Nitin Menon, and fourth umpire Virender Sharma. Level 1 offences can attract an official reprimand, a fine of up to 50 percent of the match fee, and one or two demerit points.
"Those small little margins could be the deciding factor": Shai Hope after Indore T20I loss to India
Speaking after West Indies' defeat in the third T20I in Indore, Hope reflected on the fine margins that can decide matches. He said the team could have executed its plans better with the ball and prevented some boundary runs.
"[What went wrong?] So many things you could put your finger on, to be honest, but it's another cricket game where it's very small margins. Little things that you pick at, they could be defining moments, whether you get over the line as the winning team as opposed to the losing one. So, probably with the ball, could have executed a little bit better, maybe use the surface a bit more, and a few runs we probably let through on the boundaries. Those small little margins could be the deciding factor at the back end of any game," Hope said.
Hope also praised West Indies' recovery with the ball after India's fast start, highlighting the wickets they took and Roston Chase's contribution in bringing the visitors back into contention.
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