Wahab, Shakib fined for on-field altercation
Bangladesh allrounder Shakib Al Hasan and Pakistan pacer Wahab
Riaz have been fined 30 percent of their match fees for a heated on-pitch
argument during the final day of the drawn first Test between the sides at
Khulna. Both players have been found guilty of breaching Level 1 of the ICC
code of conduct.
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.
Shakib and Wahab
admitted the offence and accepted the sanction proposed by match referee Jeff
Crowe. "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.
International cricketers should always remember that they are being watched and
followed by millions and, therefore, need to always control their emotions and
demonstrate respect," Crowe said in an ICC statement.
The charges were
levelled by on-field umpires Nigel Llong and Ranmore Martinesz, third umpire
Paul Reiffel, and fourth umpire Sharfuddoula. All Level 1 breaches carry a
minimum penalty of an official reprimand and a maximum penalty of 50 per cent
of a player's match fee. Shakib notched an unbeaten 76 runs during his team's
second innings of 555-6, helping Bangladesh earn their first draw against
Pakistan after losing all previous eight Tests to their rivals.
Shakib scored an
unbeaten 76 in Bangladesh's second innings, in which they scored 55 for 6 and
helped his team draw the first Test after having lost all previous matches
against their Asian neighbours. The second and final Test of the series will be
held at Dhaka's Shere Bangla National Stadium from May 6 to 10
