ICC sanctions Pakistan’s Khurram Shahzad and Mohammad Abbas after West Indies Test

Pakistan bowlers Mohammad Abbas and Khurram Shahzad faced ICC sanctions for code of conduct breaches. Shahzad received a fine and demerit point for his aggressive celebration after a dismissal. Abbas was officially reprimanded and given a demerit point for a similar on-field action. Both players accepted responsibility for their actions, concluding the process without formal hearings. This disciplinary action follows Pakistan's opening Test defeat against the West Indies.

The International Cricket Council (ICC) said on Wednesday that it had penalised Pakistan’s Khurram Shahzad and Mohammad Abbas for breaching Level 1 of the ICC code of conduct during the first match of their ICC World Test Championship series against the West Indies in Tarouba. “Khurram was fined 15 per cent of his match fee and Abbas handed an official reprimand for breaching Article 2.5 of the ICC Code of Conduct for Players and Player Support Personnel, 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,’“ the ICC said in a press release. It added that one demerit point had also been added to the disciplinary records of each of the players, both of whom did not have any previous offences in a 24-month period. ICC said Khurram was fined for “celebrating aggressively close to dismissed batter Shai Hope during the 17th over of the West Indies’ second innings, an action deemed capable of provoking an aggressive reaction”. Abbas was penalised for celebrating in an “animated manner” near dismissed batter Jomel Warrican, the final wicket of the innings, it added. “Both players admitted their offences and accepted the sanctions proposed by Jeff Crowe of the Emirates ICC Elite Panel of Match Referees, so there was no need for formal hearings. “On-field umpires Alex Wharf and Richard Kettleborough and third umpire Jayaraman Madanagopal levelled the charges,” the press release said. It also explained that Level 1 breaches carried a minimum penalty of an official reprimand, a maximum penalty of 50pc of a player’s match fee, and one or two demerit points. The ICC’s announcement of penalties came a day after Pakistan lost the Tarouba Test against West Indies — the first of a two-match series — by 90 runs on the fourth day of the Test.