Ambati Rayudu gets two-match ban for violation of BCCI code of Conduct

The incident happened during a Syed Mushtaq Ali T20 match between Hyderabad and Karnataka on January 11. A shot hit by Karun Nair was saved by Mehdi Hasan on the deep mid-wicket for two runs, which was later changed into a boundary after replays suggested that Hasan was touching the rope while he had the ball in his contact. 

However, the scoreboard wasn’t updated promptly and Hyderabad returned to the dugout after Karnataka's innings, in the knowledge that the target was 204. They were surprised to see the target flashing 206 when they came on to bat and complained the umpire.

“What I went and told the umpire was 'sir you cannot change the score, we are batting for 204 as our target'. That is exactly what I told him and he said 'we'll see it at the end, let the match start. The match was stopped for nine minutes, before the second innings. They had no business to stop the match once the target was declared. Then, what we said was we were playing for 204, and that was my exact words," a disappointed Rayudu said after the game.

Unfortunately, Hyderabad lost the game by two runs and caused a huge controversy at the end as Rayudu led his team to the middle arguing for a super over. The on-field drama after the game even led to a curtailed 13-over encounter between Andhra and Kerala, who were scheduled to play next at the Dr. Y.S. Rajasekhara Reddy ACA-VDCA Cricket Stadium.

"I'm sure of the rules. If he had changed immediately then it would have been perfect. Even if somebody gets out and you come inside and see that it's not out, you don't call the person back. Even in case of a no-ball not correctly called, you cannot call somebody back or add the scores. I don't know what has happened but we were playing for 204. That is exactly what I wanted to tell and we were waiting for the Super Over which never happened," he added.

On January 19, the BCCI issued a notice to Rayudu and Hyderabad team manager Krishan Rao giving them a seven-day deadline for a reply.  Now, as per a release announced by BCCI, Rayudu has pleaded guilty to the offence and accepted the sanction proposed by BCCI. The charge was levelled by on-field umpires Mr. Abhijit Deshmukh, Mr. Ulhas Vithalrao Gandhe, and third umpire Mr. Anil Dandekar, and the player is barred from participating in the first two matches for Hyderabad in the upcoming Vijay Hazare Trophy.