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NEW DELHI: Jammu and Kashmir captain Paras Dogra is likely to be fined 50 per cent of his match fee for deliberately head-butting Karnataka substitute fielder KV Aneesh during a heated second day of the Ranji Trophy final here on Wednesday.

While an official statement from BCCI match referee Narayanan Kutty is expected only after the conclusion of the match, any form of physical contact with an opposition player attracts disciplinary action and possible suspension. In this instance, the veteran domestic cricketer is expected to get away with a relatively lighter penalty.

Flashpoint on day two

Dogra, who had retired hurt on 9 on the opening day, returned to the crease on the second morning after Abdul Samad’s dismissal.

Prasidh Krishna was in the middle of a sharp spell and tested the 41-year-old with a series of short deliveries, accompanied by chatter from close-in fielders including Aneesh at silly point.

In the 101st over, Dogra awkwardly fended at a rising delivery from Prasidh that squared him up. The ball flew past the vacant third slip region for a boundary.

However, after speaking to on-field umpires Rohan Pandit and Ulhas Gandhe, Dogra walked up to Aneesh and gently head-butted him. Aneesh was wearing a helmet while fielding in close.

Tempers flare

Mayank Agarwal quickly rushed in and intervened, leading to a brief exchange of words. Karnataka skipper Devdutt Padikkal was also seen in discussion with the umpires as tensions simmered.

Though the exact nature of Aneesh’s remarks remains unclear, Dogra later described the episode as something that happened in the “heat of the moment.”

Solid knock amid controversy

Despite the controversy, Dogra went on to score 70 as Jammu and Kashmir ended the second day at 527 for 6.

The experienced skipper was eventually dismissed by leg-spinner Shreyas Gopal, but his innings was overshadowed by the on-field altercation.

(With PTI Inputs)