Three Pakistan players fined for breaching ICC Code of Conduct

Pakistan cricketers Shaheen Shah Afridi, Saud Shakeel, and Kamran Ghulam have been fined for violating Level 1 of the ICC Code of Conduct during their tri-nation series match against South Africa in Karachi on Wednesday.

Shaheen Shah Afridi was fined 25% of his match fee after breaching Article 2.12 of the ICC Code of Conduct, which pertains to "inappropriate physical contact with a Player, Player Support Personnel, Umpire, Match Referee, or any other person (including a spectator) during an International Match."

The incident occurred in the 28th over of South Africa’s innings when Shaheen deliberately obstructed batter Matthew Breetzke while he was attempting a single. The physical contact led to an argument between the two players.

Meanwhile, Saud Shakeel and substitute fielder Kamran Ghulam were each fined 10% of their match fees for celebrating too close to South African captain Temba Bavuma after he was run out in the 29th over. Both players were found to have violated Article 2.5 of the Code, which relates to "using language, actions or gestures that disparage or could provoke an aggressive reaction from a batter after his dismissal during an International Match."

As a result of the breaches, all three players have also received one demerit point on their disciplinary records. However, they did not have any previous offenses in the past 24 months. 

All three players admitted to the violations and accepted the sanctions proposed by David Boon, a member of the Emirates ICC Elite Panel of Match Referees, so there was no need for formal hearings.

The charges were leveled by the on-field umpires Asif Yaqoob and Michael Gough, third umpire Richard Illingworth, and fourth umpire Faisal Afridi.

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.