Small gesture, big consequence: Mlaba sanctioned after India match

IN THE heat of battle things can get a bit heated; it’s to be expected. And in the cauldron, and at the pinnacle of international sport, things can boil over.

It’s to be expected. Humans are emotional, and when frustrations are bottled up for a while, a breakthrough and a moment of relief can release the valve of the pressure cooker, resulting in expressions of emotions from fist pumps, to leaping in elation, and screams of celebration.

And sometimes it can, just for a moment, go overboard.

This was the case with Proteas Women spinner Nonkululeko Mlaba, who went just a bit too far during South Africa’s ICC Women’s Cricket World Cup league match against India on Thursday.

In the 17th over of India’s innings, Mlaba, after dismissing Harleen Deol, waved goodbye to the batter. A seemingly innocuous gesture – but ICC officials had their radar up and ruled that the gesture was a breach of sportsmanship, judging that the gesture could have provoked an aggressive response from the batter.

Consequences of the wave

Mlaba has, as a result, been reprimanded for breaching Level 1 of the ICC Code of Conduct.

She was found to have breached Article 2.5 of the ICC Code of Conduct for Players and Player Support Personnel, which relates to “using language, actions or gestures which disparage or which could provoke an aggressive reaction from a batter upon his/her dismissal during an International Match.”

In addition to this, one demerit point has been added to Mlaba’s disciplinary record, for whom it was the first offence in a 24-month period.

Mlaba admitted the offence and accepted the sanction proposed by Trudy Anderson of the Emirates ICC International Panel of Match Referees, so there was no need for a formal hearing.

On-field umpires Jacquline Williams and Kim Cotton, third umpire Candace le Borde and fourth umpire Sue Redfern levelled the charge.

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

What this means for Mlaba

The SA player will no doubt reflect on this unguarded moment of unprofessionalism, realising that it could, if repeated, have an impact on her team, their tournament, and in the long run her career.

According to the ICC rules, if a player reaches four or more demerit points within a 24-month period, they are converted into suspension points, and the player is banned. This would not be ideal.

Also, two suspension points equate to a ban from one Test or two ODIs or two T20Is, whatever comes first for the player; good reason to keep a cool head.

Mlaba, and the rest of the team will no doubt cool their emotions, fully aware that demerit points will remain on a Player or Player Support Personnel’s disciplinary record for a period of 24 months from their imposition, following which they will be expunged.

Of course, it’s likely that the team and coaching staff have already addressed this issue, and already the team would have been cautioned to keep their cool, and maintain respect and consideration for opponents even when the adrenaline is coursing through their veins.