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Indian pacer Mohammed Siraj has been penalised by the International Cricket Council (ICC) for an aggressive celebration following the dismissal of England opener Ben Duckett on Day 4 of the third Test at Lord’s. Siraj was docked 15 per cent of his match fee and handed one demerit point for breaching Article 2.5 of the ICC Code of Conduct, which pertains to actions or gestures that could provoke a reaction from a dismissed batter.
The incident occurred during Siraj’s follow-through, when he charged up close to Duckett and celebrated animatedly in the batter’s face after claiming his wicket. According to the ICC, the Indian fast bowler also made slight contact with Duckett as the latter walked back to the pavilion.
“This was Siraj’s second offence in a 24-month period, taking his cumulative demerit points to two,” read the ICC statement.
Stuart Broad hits out at ICC over Mohammed Siraj’s fine
Former England fast bowler Stuart Broad took to social media to express his disapproval of the sanction against Siraj, questioning the consistency of disciplinary decisions by the governing body.
“Find this ridiculous. Siraj 15% for aggressive celebration. Gill swears live on TV & carries on and what? It’s either both or neither. Players aren’t and shouldn’t be robots but consistency is key,” Broad posted on X (formerly Twitter).
Find this ridiculous. Siraj 15% for aggressive celebration. Gill swears live on tv & carries on and what? It’s either both or neither. Players aren’t and shouldn’t be robots but consistency is key https://t.co/5qtpxCmGZs
— Stuart Broad (@StuartBroad8) July 14, 2025
The veteran quick’s comments come amid growing discussions around player behaviour, televised language, and where the line is drawn by match officials in terms of what constitutes unsportsmanlike conduct.
India on the ropes in tense Lord’s Test finale
As the off-field debate rages, on-field tensions remain high with India staring at a possible defeat in the third Test. On the final day, India currently found themselves reeling at 137/8, still needing 56 runs to secure a dramatic win at the Home of Cricket. Despite valiant efforts from Ravindra Jadeja and the lower order, England’s relentless bowling attack, led by Ben Stokes and Jofra Archer, has left India in a precarious position.
