Karachi: The International Cricket Council (ICC) has imposed sanctions on Pakistan cricketers Shaheen Afridi, Saud Shakeel, and substitute fielder Kamran Ghulam for breaches of the ICC Code of Conduct during their match against South Africa in Karachi on Wednesday.
Pakistan secured a remarkable victory, successfully chasing a daunting target of 353 runs, courtesy of match-winning knocks from Mohammad Rizwan (122) and Salman Agha (134*). However, the contest was also marred by disciplinary concerns, as multiple Pakistan players were seen celebrating aggressively against South African batters.
ICC Disciplinary Action
The ICC, in an official statement, confirmed that Afridi, Shakeel, and Ghulam were penalized for their conduct during the game, resulting in fines and demerit points on their records.
Shaheen Afridi Penalized for Inappropriate Contact
Shaheen Afridi was fined 25% of his match fee for violating Article 2.12 of the ICC Code of Conduct, which prohibits inappropriate physical contact with another player. The incident occurred in the 28th over of South Africa’s innings when Afridi deliberately obstructed batter Matthew Breetzke while he was running a single, leading to physical contact and a heated exchange between the two players.
Shakeel and Ghulam Sanctioned for Provocative Celebration
Saud Shakeel and substitute fielder Kamran Ghulam were both fined 10% of their match fees for breaching Article 2.5 of the ICC Code of Conduct. The offense pertained to their excessively close and provocative celebration following the dismissal of Temba Bavuma in the 29th over, an action deemed to have the potential to incite an aggressive reaction from the batter.
Demerit Points and Acceptance of Sanctions
In addition to the fines, all three players have received one demerit point each on their disciplinary records. As none of them had prior offenses within the last 24 months, the accumulation of further points remains a concern for future conduct.
All three players accepted the ICC’s sanctions and, as a result, no formal hearings will be conducted regarding the incidents.
This disciplinary action serves as a reminder of the ICC’s commitment to maintaining the spirit of the game and ensuring that players adhere to the highest standards of conduct on the field.
