Web desk: Pakistan’s star batter and former captain Babar Azam has been fined 10 per cent of his match fee by the International Cricket Council (ICC) for breaching its Code of Conduct.
According to the ICC, Babar violated Article 2.2 of the Code, which relates to the “abuse of cricket equipment or clothing, ground equipment, or fixtures and fittings during an international match.”
He has also received one demerit point on his disciplinary record. It is his first in the last 24 months.
The incident took place in the 21st over of Pakistan’s innings when Babar struck the stumps with his bat after being dismissed.
Babar scored 34 off 52 balls before falling to Jeffrey Vandersay. The charge was laid by on-field umpires Alex Wharf and Rashid Riaz, third umpire Sharfuddoula Ibne Shahid, and fourth umpire Faisal Afridi.
Ali Naqvi, from the Emirates ICC International Panel of Match Referees, recommended the sanction.
Babar accepted the charge and penalty, so no formal hearing was required. Under ICC rules, Level 1 offences carry a minimum of an official warning and a maximum fine of 50 per cent of the match fee, along with one or two demerit points.
Despite his dismissal, Pakistan completed a 3–0 series sweep over Sri Lanka with a six-wicket win in the final ODI at Rawalpindi on Sunday.
Babar Azam Scores a Century!
Pak vs SL 2nd ODI: After 2 years and 3 months, Pakistan batter Babar Azam finally scored an international century, hitting a brilliant ton in the second ODI against Sri Lanka during a crucial chase.
Pakistan were set a challenging target of 289 to win the series, and the star batter rose to the occasion with a superb innings, bringing up his 20th ODI hundred and matching Saeed Anwar’s record.
He has also drawn level with Inzamam-ul-Haq and Mohammad Hafeez for the second-most ODI centuries by a Pakistan player (4).
