Sarfraz Ahmed likely to be suspended, Shoaib Malik in line to be stand-in captain

Pakistani skipper Sarfraz Ahmed has landed in an unwanted controversy midway through the ODI series against South Africa. During the recently played ODI, he ended up passing racist comments on South African batters, which were caught on the stump microphone. While Sarfraz made his remarks unfazed about the fact that he was being heard by all, the cricket fraternity was quick to cite it as an offence.

After the match, Sarfraz Ahmed did realise that he had committed a blunder by making those remarks. He was quick to extend an apology on the social media too. He noted that his comments were not intended at any particular player, and also, he admitted that he made the remarks in the heat of the moment and did not mean them.

Now, reports in Geo.tv suggest that the Pakistani skipper could well be handed a suspension of 3 to 5 matches. The ICC has an Anti-Racism code, and if deemed to be violating the code, the suspension could come through for the leader of the Pakistani side.

The Anti-Racism code

Article 2.13 of its ‘Code of Conduct for Players and Player Support Personnel’ — published and effective as of September 30, 2018 — covers obscene, insulting or offensive language and that “such conduct is prohibited under the ICC’s Anti-Racism Code and must be dealt with according to the procedures set out therein”.

The ICC’s ‘Anti-Racism Code for Participants’ describes the offence as “engaging in any conduct (whether through the use of language, gestures or otherwise), which is likely to offend, insult, humiliate, intimidate, threaten, disparage or vilify any reasonable person in the position of a Player, Player Support Personnel, Umpire, Match Referee, Umpire Support Personnel or any other person (including a spectator) on the basis of their race, religion, culture, colour, descent, national or ethnic origin”.

If Sarfraz Ahmed is found guilty of having breached this code of conduct, the team would need an interim captain. The reports further suggest that Shoaib Malik is most likely to be named as the stand-in captain of the side.

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