Pakistan completed a record chase against South Africa in an ODI match at the National Stadium in Karachi on Wednesday night, chasing down 354 to win with one over to spare. Mohammad Rizwan’s side also reached the mini tri-series final with the six wicket win and will face New Zealand for the title on Friday ahead of the ICC Champions Trophy 2025 which begins next week.
However, the game wasn’t without their share of controversies as Shaheen Shah Afridi, Kamran Ghulam and Saud Shakeel were involved in different incidents in the clash which has drawn ICC’s ire. The ICC has imposed fines on the three players for breaching Level 1 of the ICC Code of Conduct during their tri-nation series match against South Africa in Karachi on Wednesday.
Pacer Shaheen Shah Afridi was fined 25 per cent of his match fee for breaching Article 2.12 of the Code, which pertains to ‘inappropriate physical contact with a Player, Player Support Personnel, Umpire, Match Referee or any other person (including a spectator) during an International Match’.
The incident occurred in the 28th over of South Africa’s innings when Shaheen deliberately obstructed batter Matthew Breetzke as he ran a single, resulting in physical contact and a heated exchange between the two players.
It’s getting all heated out there!
Shaheen Afridi did not take kindly to Matthew Breetzke’s reaction, leading to an altercation in the middle!
#TriNationSeriesOnFanCode pic.twitter.com/J2SutoEZQs
— FanCode (@FanCode) February 12, 2025
In another incident, Saud Shakeel and substitute fielder Kamran Ghulam were fined 10 percent of their match fees for celebrating too closely to batter Temba Bavuma following his run-out in the 29th over. Both players were found guilty of breaching Article 2.5 of the Code, 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 the financial penalties, all three players have received one demerit point each on their disciplinary records. None of the players had any prior offences in the last 24 months. All players have accepted the sanctions imposed and there will be no formal hearings regarding the incidents.
Pakistan secured a historic win against South Africa, to reach the finals of the Tri-Nation series where they’ll take on New Zealand on February 14. Rizwan’s side are in Group A of the Champions Trophy 2025 along with Team India, New Zealand and Bangladesh.
The all-important clash against India will take place on February 23 in Dubai.
About The Author
