India fast bowler Ishant Sharma, who starred in the second innings with figures of 5/51, has found himself on the wrong side of the law, as he was found guilty of a Level 1 breach of the ICC Code of Conduct for Players and Player Support Personnel during the third day’s play in the first Test against England at Edgbaston on Friday.

Ishant was fined 15% of his match fees and was given one demerit point. The India fast bowler was found to have violated Article 2.1.7 of the code, which relates to “using language, actions or gestures which disparage or which could provoke an aggressive reaction from a batsman upon his/her dismissal during an international match”.

The incident which got him fined was when Ishant celebrated Dawid Malan’s wicket too closely to the batsman. The officials found it an action which had the potential to provoke an aggressive reaction from the departing batsman.

Sharma admitted the offense and accepted the sanction proposed by Jeff Crowe of the Emirates Elite Panel of ICC Match Referees. The charge was leveled by on-field umpires Aleem Dar and Chris Gaffaney, third umpire Marais Erasmus, and fourth umpire Tim Robinson.

Level 1 breaches carry a minimum penalty of an official reprimand, a maximum penalty of 50 percent of a player’s match fee, and one or two demerit points.

(with inputs to icc-cricket.com)