Pakistan trio fined for breaching ICC Code of Conduct

Pakistan cricketers Shaheen Shah Afridi, Saud Shakeel, and Kamran Ghulam have been fined for violating Level 1 of the ICC Code of Conduct during their tri-nation series match against South Africa in Karachi on Wednesday. The penalties were imposed due to inappropriate physical contact and unsportsmanlike celebrations, leading to financial deductions and demerit points on their disciplinary records.

Afridi was fined 25 percent of his match fee for breaching Article 2.12 of the ICC Code of Conduct, which prohibits "inappropriate physical contact with a Player, Player Support Personnel, Umpire, Match Referee, or any other person during an International Match."

The incident occurred in the 28th over of South Africa’s innings when Shaheen deliberately obstructed batter Matthew Breetzke as he attempted a single. The act resulted in physical contact, followed by a heated spat between the two players.

In a separate incident, middle-order batter Shakeel and substitute fielder Ghulam were fined 10 percent of their match fees for celebrating near South African batter Temba Bavuma after his dismissal in the 29th over. Their actions were deemed a violation of Article 2.5, which relates to "using language, actions, or gestures that disparage or could provoke an aggressive reaction from a batter upon dismissal during an International Match."

As a consequence of their actions, all three players received one demerit point on their disciplinary records. Since none of them had any prior offenses in the last 24 months, their records remain relatively clean, though further violations could lead to more severe consequences.

Also Read: Watch: Shaheen Afridi and Matthew Breetzke altercation during Pakistan ODI Tri-Series

The charges were laid by on-field umpires Asif Yaqoob and Michael Gough, third umpire Richard Illingworth, and fourth umpire Faisal Afridi. The sanctions were imposed by David Boon of the Emirates ICC Elite Panel of Match Referees, and all three players accepted their penalties without contesting, stopping the need for a formal hearing.