Sri Lanka skipper Chamari Athapaththu was given a formal warning after violating Level 1 of the ICC Code of Conduct during the recent Sri Lanka tri-series. The offense was committed in a high-scoring group stage game against South Africa in Colombo, in which the Proteas emerged victorious. Athapaththu was penalized 10 percent of her match fee and issued one demerit point for her conduct, which was her first offense within a span of 24 months. The infringement was in terms of an emotional outburst that resulted in the damage of her equipment, underscoring the ICC's no-nonsense approach to keeping its players in line during international competitions.

The incident directly contravened Article 2.2 of the ICC Code of Conduct, which deals with the "abuse of cricket equipment or clothing, ground equipment, or fixtures and fittings during an international match." The incident occurred in the 32nd over of South Africa's innings when Athapaththu, having conceded a four to Annerie Dercksen, took off her sunglasses and crushed them on the ground, shattering them into pieces. The offense was charged by on-field umpires Anna Harris and Dedunu de Silva, third umpire Lyndon Hannibal, and fourth umpire Nimali Perera, who together reported the infringement.

Athapaththu pleaded the offense and accepted Michelle Pereira of the Emirates ICC International Panel of Match Referees' suggested sanctions, precluding the requirement for a hearing. Level 1 offenses, as defined by the ICC, have punishments that range from a formal reprimand to a maximum of 50 percent of a player's match fee, with one or two demerit points. This event is a reminder of staying calm under fire, especially for a captain commanding her side on home ground.

Tri-Series Outcome and Context

The tri-series, which was held in Sri Lanka, ended with India being the champions after beating the hosts by 97 runs in the last match. There were competitive games in the tournament, and the win of South Africa against Sri Lanka in the group stages proved the level of competition. Athapaththu's disciplinary failure, although significant, could not eclipse her performance as a player and a leader throughout the series.

Sri Lanka skipper finds herself in trouble following her actions in the tri-series at home 👀

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— ICC (@ICC) May 12, 2025

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India's triumph was marked by standout individual performances, such as Smriti Mandhana's century in the final, putting her in an elite list alongside Mithali Raj in Indian cricket history. For Sri Lanka, the tournament served as useful experience, while Athapaththu's incident highlighted the importance of avoiding professional lapses, particularly in high-pressure matches under the eyes of global regulations.