England pacer Reece Topley, who featured for the Royal Challengers Bengaluru (RCB) in the 2024 season of IPL, has been fined 15 per cent of his match fees by the ICC following his actions in England’s first T20I of the 5-match series against West Indies.
Topley injured his right knee during the series opener against the West Indies on Saturday. He tried to continue bowling after a short rain delay but eventually left the field after bowling one more delivery and didn’t take the field for the rest of the game.
As he walked back up the steps, Topley was seen picking up a chair and smashing it on the staircase handrail. This isn’t the first time that Topley lost his cool during a match as he swiped a chair out of his path after leaving the field following an injury in the 2023 ODI World Cup.
He escaped punishment for his action in 2023, but this time, he has been found guilty by the ICC.
Topley was found to have breached Article 2.2 of the ICC Code of Conduct for Players and Player Support Personnel, which relates to abuse of cricket equipment or clothing, ground equipment or fixtures and fittings during an International Match,” ICC said in a statement.
In addition to this, one demerit point has been added to Topley’s disciplinary record, for whom it was the first offence in a 24-month period.
Topley admitted the offence and accepted the sanction proposed by Richie Richardson of the Emirates Elite Panel of ICC Referees, so there was no need for a formal hearing.
