Jay Shah's role in Virat Kohli avoiding harsh punishment in Sam Konstas incident? Ricky Ponting slams ICC

Legendary Australia captain Ricky Ponting has slammed the International Cricket Council (ICC) for being easy on Virat Kohli. Recently, the ICC announced that Kohli has been fined 20 percent of his match fees for his physical altercation with Australia's young opener Sam Konstas.

However, Ponting wasn't happy with the punishment and felt that it wasn't hard enough. Ponting had earlier called out Kohli for starting the altercation when the incident happened and asked the ICC to take severe action against the Indian superstar.

Also read: Cricket Australia, BCCI issue strong statements on Virat Kohli-Sam Konstas incident at MCG

Ricky Ponting slams ICC for being easy on Virat Kohli

While speaking for 7Cricket before the start of Day 2 of the Boxing Day Test, Ricky Ponting spoke about the ICC's decision to fine Kohli 20 percent of his match fees. Ponting reckoned that the punishment wasn't hard enough after looking at the enormity of the situation.

Ponting further cited the example of a grade game and argued that if such incidents will be acceptable in those games as well from now onwards.

"Personally, I don't think it (the punishment) was harsh enough. I know there are precedents (where similar infringements have incurred similar sized penalties) – they've generally been between a 15 and 25 per cent fine but let's have a think about the enormity of yesterday," Ponting said.

"It's probably the most-watched day of cricket all year all around the world. Imagine if that happens in a grade game on the weekend now, what's going to happen there? I think people are going to think that that's almost acceptable now," he added.

"He's a role model" - Ricky Ponting on Virat Kohli

Ricky Ponting further mentioned that Virat Kohli is a role model for the upcoming generation and feels that he shouldn't have been let away so easily by the ICC.

"And unfortunately for someone like Virat (Kohli), as we got told as players and as senior players, sometimes it's (the scale of punishment) just different for some people. He's a role model, he's somebody the cricketing world looks up to, so I personally don't think that the fine was harsh enough," Ponting exclaimed.

Virat Kohli has a huge fan following across the globe and is probably the most followed cricketer on the planet. Even the younger generation of cricketers look up to him and follow his path.

What was the incident?

After the 10th over of Australia's innings on Day 1, Virat Kohli and Sam Konstas were involved in a confrontation with each other after a shoulder collision. After the end of the over, Kohli suddenly seemed to change his path and barged his shoulder with Konstas.

Kohli turned around had a few words with the youngster before Usman Khawaja had to step in and separate the two of them. Umpire Michael Gough also had to step in to calm down the things.

Both the players went their way after the incident and Konstas continued on his merry way. He scored a fine 60 off 65 balls with 6 fours and 2 sixes on debut.