Three Pakistani players — Shaheen Shah Afridi, Saud Shakeel and Kamran Ghulam — have been fined by the International Cricket Council (ICC) for breaching Level 1 of its Code of Conduct during their tri-nation series match against South Africa in Karachi on Wednesday.
According to the ICC, Shaheen was fined 25% of his match fee after violating Article 2.12 of the “Code of Conduct for Players and Player Support Personnel”, which addresses “inappropriate physical contact with a Player, Player Support Personnel, Umpire, Match Referee or any other person (including a spectator) during an International Match.”
This fine comes after a heated argument between Pakistan’s left-arm pacer and South Africa’s batter Matthew Breetzke, during the 28th over of South Africa’s innings.
Shaheen appeared displeased when the 26-year-old nearly ran into him while sprinting between the wickets, prompting the fast bowler to confront him.
Later in the same over, Breetzke was taking a single when he almost collided with Shaheen again.
The two players exchanged words at the non-striker’s end, engaging in a heated argument before the on-field umpire and Pakistani players intervened to separate them.
Meanwhile, Saud and substitute fielder Kamran were fined 10% 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.”
Additionally, 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% of a player’s match fee, and one or two demerit points.
Shaheen breaks silence
In a recent interview after the match, Shaheen admitted that he had teased Breetzke in an attempt to unsettle him and take his wicket. However, he clarified that the tension remained confined to the field.
“For the first time, Matthew didn’t say anything. I kept teasing him to get a wicket. Whatever happened on the field stayed there,” Shaheen explained.
He further revealed that after the match, both players shook hands and put the incident behind them. “Matthew and I met, shook hands, and became good friends,” he added.
For the unversed, the Men in Green reached the final of the tri-nation series after defeating the Proteas by six wickets in a record-breaking 352-run chase, courtesy of exceptional centuries by skipper Mohammad Rizwan and deputy Salman Ali Agha.
The duo added a record 260 runs for the fourth wicket before Lungi Ngidi dismissed Salman on the fifth delivery of the penultimate over.
Agha top-scored for Pakistan with 134 off 103 deliveries, studded with 16 fours and two sixes.
Rizwan, on the other hand, carried his bat through the innings with an unbeaten 122 off 128 deliveries, laced with nine fours and three sixes.
The hosts will now take on New Zealand in the final of the series on February 14 at the National Bank Stadium, Karachi.
