Shadab punished for Walton send-off

KARACHI: Young leg-spinner Shadab Khan has been reprimanded for his unnecessary aggression during Pakistan’s 82-run win in their second Twenty20 International against the West Indies at the National Stadium on Monday night.

The International Cricket Council (ICC) announced on Tuesday that Shadab has been fined 20 per cent of his match fee and received one demerit point after giving West Indies batsman Chadwick Walton a send-off on Monday.

He was found to have violated Article 2.1.7 of the code, which relates to “using language, actions or gestures which disparage or which could provoke an aggressive reaction from a batsman upon his/her dismissal during an international match”.

The incident happened in the ninth over of the West Indian innings when Shadab, after dismissing Walton, pointed his finger at the departing batsmen and also made an inappropriate comment. It was an unnecessary action as the T20 series is being played in a very cordial atmosphere with the main purpose of reviving international cricket in Pakistan.

The charge was levelled by on-field umpires Shozab Raza and Ahmed Shahab, third umpire Ahsan Raza, as well as fourth umpire Khalid Mahmood.

After the match, Shadab admitted the offence and accepted the sanction proposed by match referee David Boon and, as such, there was no need for a formal hearing.

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.

In addition to the fine for his breach, one demerit point has been added to Shadab’s disciplinary record. 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.