Pakistan star batter Babar Azam has been fined 10 per cent of his match fee and given a demerit point for hitting the stumps with his bat after his dismissal in the third ODI against Sri Lanka in Rawalpindi.
The 31-year-old was found guilty of breaching Article 2.2 of the ICC Code of Conduct, which covers the “abuse of cricket equipment or clothing, ground equipment, or fixtures and fittings during an international match.”
This is Babar’s first demerit point in a 24-month period.
The incident took place in the 21st over of Pakistan’s innings, when Babar struck the stumps with his bat before walking off after being dismissed in Sunday’s series finale.
On-field umpires Alex Wharf and Rashid Riaz, along with third umpire Sharfuddoula Ibne Shahid and fourth umpire Faisal Afridi, laid the charge. Match referee Ali Naqvi of the ICC International Panel proposed the sanction.
According to an ICC statement, “The Pakistan batter admitted to the offence and accepted the sanction, which meant no formal hearing was required.”
Level 1 offences carry a minimum punishment of an official reprimand and a maximum fine of 50 per cent of a player’s match fee, along with one or two demerit points.
Despite the sanction, Pakistan completed a clean sweep over Sri Lanka, with Babar finishing as the leading run-scorer of the series with 165 runs, including his 20th ODI century.
(By PTI Inputs)
