Cricket world divided after Travis Head and Mohammed Siraj cop different punishments from ICC

India are reportedly fuming after Mohammed Siraj copped a heavier punishment than Travis Head after the pair were involved in a heated exchange during the second cricket Test. The ICC revealed on Monday evening that Head and Siraj had both been found guilty of breaching the code of conduct, but Siraj copped a heavier whack.

While Head only received an official reprimand, Siraj was fined 20 per cent of his match fee. Both players were given one demerit point on their official records as well.

Siraj was found to have breached article 2.5 of the code, which relates to “using language, actions or gestures which disparage or which could provoke an aggressive reaction from a batter upon dismissal”. Head was found to have breached article 2.13, which relates to the “abuse of a player, player support personnel, umpire or match referee”.

The charges handed down were comparatively light because it was the first offence for both players in a 24-month period. If a player gets four or more demerit points in that period, those points are converted into suspension points and the player will be banned. Two suspension points equate to a ban for one Test match – or two ODIs or two T20Is – whichever might come first.

“Siraj and Head admitted their respective offences and accepted the sanctions proposed by (match referee) Ranjan Madugalle,” the ICC said in a statement. “And, as such, there was no need for a formal hearing.”

India unhappy that Travis Head wasn’t fined as well

However the disparity between the two punishments has divided cricket fans, with India reportedly unhappy that Head didn’t also cop a fine. Siraj stared Head down after dismissing him for 140, which prompted the Aussie batter to say something.

Siraj then gestured for Head to leave the ground, which resulted in the Aussie saying “F*** you c***.” The swearing was clearly captured on TV cameras and replayed a number of times, and many felt Head got off lightly for what he said.

“India doesn’t think it’s fair at all,” commentator Bharat Sundaresan said on SEN radio on Tuesday. “India also doesn’t think some of the headlines in the Australian papers and news websites represent the incident fairly.

“The fact is that they’ve been [charged] under two different code of conduct points…With Travis Head, it was more abuse of a player…That does come with a reprimand and no fine, that’s just how it is. It will be debated, but in a way, I’m glad it’s come and gone and we all can move on. I think it’s fair to the code of conduct.”

Josh Hazlewood defends Mohammed Siraj’s character

Siraj became public enemy No.1 during the day-night Test at Adelaide Oval, with the crowd booing him throughout the match. On top of the incident with Head, he also pegged the ball angrily at the stumps when Marnus Labuschagne backed away because a fan with a beer snake had distracted him behind the bowler.

And for the second Test in a row, he copped backlash for failing to turn around and appeal to the umpire on an lbw decision. Former Test captain Michael Clarke said the ICC should sanction Siraj for disrespecting the umpires by not appealing properly.

But Josh Hazlewood, who has played with Siraj in the IPL for Royal Challengers Bangalore, has described the Indian firebrand as a “good character”. Hazlewood said: “I really enjoyed my time at RCB with him. He’s probably the leader of the attack there, to a degree.

“He’s another one who’s a bit like Virat (Kohli), very passionate, goes with the flow of the game, gets the crowd up. (He has) bowled serious spells in the IPL in the last few years. He’s just a good character and it’s good to see sometimes.”

with AAP