The International Cricket Council (ICC) on Tuesday (March 19) suspended Sri Lanka all-rounder Wanindu Hasaranga for the upcoming two-match Test series against Bangladesh.

ICC issued a statement shortly after Hasaranga announced his decision to return to Test cricket, having retired from the longest format last year.

During the third game of the recently held ODI series between Sri Lanka and Bangladesh, Hasaranga was found guilty of breaching article 2.8 of the ICC Code of Conduct for Players and Player Support Personnel, which relates to “showing dissent at an Umpire’s decision during an International Match.”

The incident took place in the 37th over of the game when Hasaranga snatched his cap from one of the umpires and ridiculed the umpiring in the match.

Hasaranga was handed a 50 per cent fine and he also accumulated three demerit points for his offense. This brought his total demerit points to eight in a 24-month period.

The all-rounder was already on five demerit points after receiving three demerit points in the third T20I against Afghanistan in Dambulla last month. Following this, he was suspended for two T20Is against Bangladesh.

Now, with the addition of the latest demerit points, he has breached the threshold of eight demerit points, which, pursuant to article 7.6 of the Code, have been converted into four suspension points.

The four suspension points equate to a ban from two Tests or four ODIs or T20Is, whatever comes first – Hasaranga will therefore miss the two ICC World Test Championship Tests against Bangladesh, slated to get underway on March 22 in Sylhet.

(With ICC inputs)