On the opening day of the Leeds Test (June 20), the magic of Indian captain Shubman Gill was on full display. Leading from the front, Shubman smashed a century in his debut innings as captain, marking his sixth Test century. At the end of the first day, Shubman Gill stood unbeaten at 127 runs alongside vice-captain Rishabh Pant, who was at 65. The Indian team had posted a formidable score of 359 runs for the loss of three wickets in their first innings.
While Shubman Gill's brilliant century was the talk of the town, the Indian captain also grabbed headlines for another reason on June 20. During the game, Shubman took to the field donning black socks, a move considered a breach of ICC rules.
Source: aajtak
It is important to highlight that according to Clause 19.45 of the ICC's Clothing and Equipment Rules, players in Test cricket are required to wear socks in shades of white, cream, or light grey. Shubman Gill, opting for black, breached these guidelines. These rules, backed by the Marylebone Cricket Club (MCC), became effective from May 2023.
It now falls to match referee Richie Richardson to decide the outcome. If he considers Shubman's action as a deliberate Level-1 offence, the Indian skipper might face a fine ranging from 0 to 50 percent of his match fee. However, if it is perceived as an inadvertent mistake or due to circumstances (like wet white socks), Shubman could be spared from the fine.
For Level-1 offences under ICC rules, players can be fined 0 to 50 percent and awarded demerit points. In contrast, Level-2 offences could lead to fines between 50 to 100 percent and possible bans (such as a Test or two ODIs). Violations of dress code rarely escalate to Level-2 offences.
2016:
Chris Gayle wielded a black bat in a Big Bash League (BBL) game, against the regulations, earning a 10 percent match fee fine.
2018:
In a Test against Afghanistan, KL Rahul sported a helmet contrary to ICC standards, resulting in a 10 percent match fee penalty.
2019:
Pakistani batsman Imam-ul-Haq wore a bat logo forbidden by ICC rules during a World Cup match against England, incurring a 15 percent match fee fine.
2021:
Joe Root adorned his jersey with a Rainbow symbol in support of the LGBTQ+ community during a match against India, resulting in a 15 percent match fee fine.
