KHURRAM AND ABBAS PENALISED FOR BREACHING ICC CODE OF CONDUCT

Pakistan players Khurram Shahzad and Mohammad Abbas have been penalised 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.”

In addition to this, one demerit point each has been added to the disciplinary records of the players, both of whom did not have any previous offences in a 24-month period.

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.

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.

Level 1 breaches carry a minimum penalty of an official reprimand, a maximum penalty of 50 per cent of a player’s match fee, and one or two demerit points. 

NOTES TO EDITORS: 

*When a player reaches four or more demerit points within a 24-month period, they are converted into suspension points and a player is banned 

**Two suspension points equate to a ban from one Test or two ODIs or two T20Is, whatever comes first for the player 

***Demerit Points to remain on a Player or Player Support Personnel’s disciplinary record for a period of twenty-four (24) months from their imposition following which they will be expunged