IPL Conduct Breach: Mumbai Indians’ Pollard and David Fined for Dugout Signals

In a recent turn of events during the IPL 2024, Mumbai Indians batting coach Kieron Pollard and batter Tim David have been fined by the Board for Control of Cricket in India (BCCI) for breaching the IPL Code of Conduct. The incident occurred during a match against Punjab Kings at the PCA New International Cricket Stadium in Mullanpur. Pollard and David were seen signaling to MI batter Suryakumar Yadav to take a Decision Review System (DRS) challenge against a non-wide call by the umpire, which is a violation under Article 2.20 of the IPL’s Code of Conduct.

The controversy arose during the first innings of the game when Punjab Kings’ pacer Arshdeep Singh delivered a wide yorker that was not declared a wide by the umpire. The Mumbai Indians’ dugout, after reviewing the replay on the big screen, signaled Yadav to appeal the decision. Yadav then requested a DRS review, which was successful in overturning the umpire’s call. The move drew immediate protests from PBKS stand-in captain Sam Curran and sparked accusations of unfair play from the PBKS fans.

Both Pollard and David admitted to the breach and accepted the sanctions imposed by the Match Referee, which involved a fine of 20% of their match fees. The Match Referee’s decisions for Level 1 breaches are final and binding, underscoring the seriousness with which the IPL governs conduct on and off the field. This decision serves as a reminder of the strict adherence to conduct rules that players and coaches must follow during the high-stakes tournament.

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