Former Indian cricketer Sanjay Manjrekar has criticized the ICC and BCCI for what he views as lenient punishments in recent disciplinary cases involving young Indian players, warning that light sanctions may encourage repeated misconduct.
Sanjay Manjrekar, a former Indian cricketer, has publicly questioned the approach taken by cricket's governing bodies toward disciplinary matters involving emerging Indian talent. In particular, Manjrekar expressed concerns that insufficient penalties may establish a problematic pattern among young athletes.
Manjrekar's comments were prompted by the ICC's handling of an on-field incident between Indian batter Yashasvi Jaiswal and Sri Lankan bowler Asitha Fernando during the second Test match in Colombo. The pair was each fined 25 percent of their match fees and received one demerit point after they made head contact following Fernando's dismissal of Jaiswal. According to the ICC, both players exchanged words before the physical contact occurred. Neither player contested the charges, and both accepted the sanctions without requiring formal hearings.
Manjrekar referenced this case alongside a separate disciplinary incident involving Vaibhav Suryavanshi while playing for India A, arguing that the pattern of relatively minor consequences could reinforce undesirable behavior. "If you keep letting them get away with such behaviour, you train them to repeat such behaviour," Manjrekar stated on social media, emphasizing that lenient disciplinary measures harm both the sport and the players' long-term careers.
The ICC determined that both Jaiswal and Fernando breached Article 2.12 of the ICC Code of Conduct, which governs inappropriate physical contact during matches. Manjrekar's intervention reflects broader debate within Indian cricket circles regarding appropriate accountability standards for developing players.
