Three Pakistan players fined for misconduct

Three Pakistan cricket team players have been penalized for breaching Level 1 of the ICC Code of Conduct during their tri-nation series match against South Africa.

The trio include pacer Shaheen Shah Afridi and batters Saud Shakeel and Kamran Ghulam, revealed the press release issued by the International Cricket Council (ICC).

Shaheen was fined 25 per cent of his match fee after he was found to have breached Article 2.12 of the ICC Code of Conduct for Players and Player Support Personnel, which relates to “inappropriate physical contact with a Player, Player Support Personnel, Umpire, Match Referee or any other person (including a spectator) during an International Match.”

The incident occurred in the 28th over of South Africa’s innings, when Shaheen deliberately got in the way of batter Matthew Breetzke as he ran a single, causing an inappropriate physical contact that also resulted in an argument.

Meanwhile, Saud and substitute fielder Kamran were fined 10 per cent each of their match fee as they celebrated too close to batter Temba Bavuma after he was run out in the 29th over of South Africa’s innings.

Saud and Kamran were found to have breached Article 2.5 of the Code, which relates to “using language, actions or gestures which disparage or which could provoke an aggressive reaction from a batter upon his/her dismissal during an International Match.”

In addition to this, one demerit point has been added to the disciplinary records of the three players, all of whom did not have a previous offence in a 24-month period.

All three admitted the offences and accepted the sanctions proposed by David Boon of the Emirates ICC Elite Panel of Match Referees, so there was no need for formal hearings.

On-field umpires Asif Yaqoob and Michael Gough, third umpire Richard Illingworth and fourth umpire Faisal Afridi levelled the charges.

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.