IND vs AUS: Siraj And Head to Face Punishment For Verbal Altercation in Adelaide Test - Report

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Indian pacer Mohammed Siraj and Australian batter Travis Head are reportedly set to be punished by the ICC following their verbal altercation during the bygone second Test of the Border-Gavaskar Trophy Down Under.

According to multiple reports in the Australian media, including by 'Daily Telegraph' and 'Code Sports', both the players will be reprimanded by the global cricket body in the coming days for their heated exchange on day 2 of the pink ball Test in Adelaide.

The reports add that the duo have been found guilty of breaching the world body's code of conduct and were held guilty following a disciplinary hearing on Monday (December 9). However, they are only likely to be fined or reprimanded instead of facing a suspension due to their good past record.

Head and Siraj had a brief showdown on day two of the match at the Adelaide Oval, where Australia ran out 10-wicket winners on Sunday (December 8) and in the process levelled the series at 1-1.

Head smashed a splendid 141-ball 140 before being castled by Siraj, who went on to give him an aggressive send-off following an exchange of words. The Indian endured booes from the Adelaide crowd following the confrontation.

Head later claimed that he had merely said "well bowled" to Siraj and that he was disappointed at how the visiting bowler had responded. Siraj disputed that claim, asserting that Head had abused him.

"I only celebrated and he abused me and you saw that on TV too. I only celebrated at the start, I didn't say anything to him," Siraj told broadcaster 'Star Sports'.

"What he said in the press conference wasn't right, it's a lie that he only said 'well bowled' to me. It's there for everyone to see that that's not what he said to me."

The Australian batter had reportedly cursed Siraj after the Indian pacer's reaction as per cricket reporter Bharat Sundaresan, who confirmed the chronology of the incident on X.

Head also acknowledged his role in the incident. "There was no confrontation leading up to him and I felt like it was probably, yeah, a little bit far at the time, and that's why I am disappointed in the reaction that I gave back," he said in a post-play press conference.

(With PTI inputs)