Picture Credit: AFP
Pakistan fast bowler Shaheen Afridi has been slapped with a fine for breaching Level 1 of the ICC Code of Conduct during the second T20I against Bangladesh in Dhaka on Saturday. Notably, the pacer had injured Bangladesh batter, Afif Hossain, with a dangerous throw on his follow-through. In addition to the fine, one demerit point has been added to the disciplinary record of Afridi.
"Pakistan fast bowler Shaheen Afridi was found to have breached Article 2.9 of the ICC Code of Conduct for Players and Player Support Personnel, which relates to “throwing a ball (or any other item of cricket equipment such as a water bottle) at or near a Player, Player Support Personnel, Umpire, Match Referee or any other third person in an inappropriate and/or dangerous manner during an International Match.”
As a result, Afridi was fined 15 per cent of his match fees. The incident took place in the third over of Bangladesh’s innings. Afif Hossain played a superb pick shot off his pads for a six over square leg. On the next ball, Hossain drove the ball straight to the left-arm pacer, who collected it and threw it back dangerously at the batter, who was injured in the process. Shaheen, however, was quick to apologise to Afif after the incident.
There was no need for a formal hearing as Shaheen has admitted the offence. He also accepted the sanctions proposed by Neeyamur Rashid of the Emirates ICC International Panel of Match Referees and ratified by the ICC Cricket Operations department as per the COVID-19 interim playing regulations.
Hasan Ali was also reprimanded recently
Earlier, Pakistan pacer Hasan Ali was also reprimanded for breaching Level 1 of the ICC Code of Conduct during the 1st T20I against Bangladesh. Hasan was found to have breached Article 2.5 of the ICC Code of Conduct for Players and Player Support Personnel as he had given an inappropriate sendoff to Nurul Hasan after dismissing him.