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Usman Khawaja said he stepped in to diffuse the tension between Virat Kohli and Sam Konstas because he did not want the situation to go out of hands.
The incident happened during the first session. (AP Photo)
Usman Khawaja was at the scene when Virat Kohli and Sam Konstas were involved in a physical altercation during the first day of the fourth Test for the Border-Gavaskar Trophy at the Melbourne Cricket Ground in Melbourne on Thursday.
Khawaja revealed at the end of the day’s play that he stepped in to diffuse the tension because he did not want the situation to go out of hands.
While crossing over, Kohli and Konstas bumped shoulders and quickly turned around to glance at each other, engaging in a heated exchange of words.
Khawaja immediately stepped in to separate them, putting his arm around Kohli. The on-field umpires also had a word with the two, as things cooled down rather quickly.
“I was walking the other way and just as I turned around, I saw them collide. I was like, ‘What’s going on here?’ Sammy was going, he was on fire, his beans were obviously going. I just came to diffuse the situation,” Khawaja was quoted sa saying by ABC.
“I like the emotion. There was a bit of chirp going on between Sam and (Jasprit) Bumrah and Virat the whole time. But I didn’t want it to be tainted by any physical contact.
“I’ve known Virat a long time. We’ve been mates a long time. I was like (to Konstas), ‘Chill. I’ll talk to him. You chill, and I’ll sort this out’.”
ALSO READ | Virat Kohli Fined 20 Percent Match Fee And Given A Demerit Point For Bumping Into Sam Konstas
The Indian superstar was fined 20 per cent of his match fee and handed a demerit point even though it was played down as an accidental bump by the 19-year-old Aussie debutant.
Kohli was eventually charged with breaching Level 1 of the ICC Code of Conduct by on-field umpires Joel Wilson and Michael Gough, third umpire Sharfuddoula Ibne Shahid and fourth umpire Shawn Craig.
He accepted the sanctions proposed by match referee Andy Pycroft at the end of the day’s play.
“Virat Kohli has been fined 20 per cent of his match fee and awarded one demerit point for breaching Level 1 of the ICC Code of Conduct,” the ICC said in a statement.
“No formal hearing was needed as Kohli accepted the sanctions proposed by Match Referee Andy Pycroft,” it added.
(With inputs from Agencies)
