KHULNA: Bangladesh all-rounder Shakib Al Hasan and Pakistan fast bowler Wahab Riaz were fined for breaching Level 1 of the ICC Code of Conduct during the final day’s play of the drawn first Test in Khulna on Saturday.

Both the players were fined 30 per cent of their match fees by ICC match referee Jeff Crowe. The ICC didn’t say how much that percentage represented but it is thought to be around $1,000 each. The players were found to have breached Article 2.1.8 (a) of the ICC Code of Conduct for Players and Player Support Personnel, which relates to “conduct contrary to the spirit of the game”.

The incident happened in the 118th over of Bangladesh’s second innings when the two players unnecessarily halted play by arguing and pointing fingers at each other. Both the players admitted the offence and accepted the sanction.

Explaining his decision, Crowe said in an ICC media release on Sunday: “Posturing and finger pointing in each other’s face is not what we expect from two senior international players and has no place in cricket.”

The charges were levelled by on-field umpires Nigel Llong of England and Sri Lanka’s Ranmore Martinesz, TV umpire Paul Reiffel of Australia, and fourth umpire Sharfuddoula Saikat of Bangladesh. All Level 1 breaches carry a minimum penalty of an official reprimand and a maximum penalty of 50 per cent of match fee.

Published in Dawn, May 4th, 2015

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