Shaheen, Shakeel, and Kamran fined and given demerit points

KARACHI: Shaheen Shah Afridi received the largest fine out of the three Pakistani players who breached level one of the International Cricket Council (ICC) Code of Conduct in the tri-nation series match against South Africa, the ICC stated on Thursday.

The charges were brought to the ICC’s attention by the umpires overseeing Wednesday’s game, including Asif Yaqoob, Michael Gough, Richard Illingworth, and Faisal Afridi.

Shaheen was fined 25 percent of his match fee due to his altercation with Matthew Breetzke in the game. The Pakistani bowler deliberately moved in the way of the South African debutant as he ran a single. The ICC stated this was a breach of Article 2.12 of the code of conduct, specifically Shaheen’s initiation of inappropriate physical contact with a player.

Both Kamran Ghulan and Saud Shakeel were fined 10 per cent of their match fee due to their celebrations after Temba Bavuma was run out. After Shakeel threw the ball into the wicket-keeper’s end stumps, while Bavuma was stranded between the wickets, Kamran can be seen running into Bavuma’s path and celebrating excessively.

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Shakeel similarly ran towards Bavuma while celebrating, before he was held back by Salman Ali Agha. Kamran and Shakeel’s actions constitute a breach of Article 2.5 of the code, specifically using actions and gestures that disparage or provoke an aggressive reaction from a batter when they are dismissed.

The maximum amount the three could have been fined for breaching level one of the code is 50 per cent of their match fee.

Alongside the fines, each player has been given one demerit point. It is each player’s first in the last 24-month period. If a player reaches four demerit points in a 24-month period, they will be banned for up to one test or two ODIs/T20Is. If a player receives eight, they will be suspended for 2 tests or 4 ODIs/T20Is. Twenty-four months after a demerit point is received, it will be expunged.

All three players accepted the ICC’s decision and thus there will not be any formal hearings.

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