ZIM vs AFG 2024-25: Gulbadin Naib fined for breaching ICC Code of Conduct

Afghanistan player Gulbadin Naib has been fined 15 per cent of his match fee for breaching Level 1 of the ICC Code of Conduct during the second T20I against Zimbabwe in Harare on Friday.

Gulbadin was found to have breached Article 2.8 of the ICC Code of Conduct for Players and Player Support Personnel, which relates to “showing dissent at an Umpire’s decision during an International Match.”

In addition to this, one demerit point has been added to Gulbadin’s disciplinary record, for whom it was the first offence in a 24-month period.

The incident occurred in the 11th over of Zimbabwe’s innings, when an LBW appeal against Tashinga Musekiwa was turned down off the bowling of captain Rashid Khan. Gulbadin showed dissent by bowing down for a mock prayer and appealed for a review when DRS was not available in the match.

Naib admitted the offence and accepted the sanction proposed by Andy Pycroft of the ICC Elite Panel of Match Referees, so there was no need for a formal hearing.

On-field umpires Langton Rusere and Forster Mutizwa, third umpire Iknow Chabi and fourth umpire Percival Sizara laid the charge.

Level 1 breaches carry a minimum penalty of an official reprimand, a maximum penalty of 50 per cent of a player’s match fee, and one or two demerit points.

Afghanistan choose to bowl in series decider

Speaking of the series, the visiting skipper won the toss and revealed his choice to bowl first for the third and final game of the T20I leg. The Asian nation made a change to their playing XI bringing back left-arm pacer Fazalhaq Farooqi for Fareed Ahmad, whereas, Faraz Akram replaced Ryan Burl in the Zimbabwean side.

The Sikandar Raza-led side won the first match of the tour in what turned out to be a last-ball thriller to go 1-0 up in the series. However, Rashid & Co bounced back in the second game to level the terms while also keeping the series alive.