ICC fines Shakib, Nurul for breaching ICC code of conduct

FE Team | Published: March 17, 2018 21:11:45

Bangladesh captain Shakib Al Hasan and reserve player Nurul Hasan have both been fined 25 per cent of their match fees for separate incidents during the T20I against Sri Lanka in Colombo on Friday, reports ESPNCricinfo.
Both players have also received one demerit point each for breaching Level 1 of the ICC code of conduct.
In the final over of a tense chase, Shakib gestured towards the Bangladesh batsmen Mahmudullah and Rubel Hossain to come off the field, from the edge of the boundary, while protesting an umpiring decision. He was found to have indulged in "conduct that is contrary to the spirit of the game".
Nurul was seen arguing with Sri Lanka captain Thisara Perera after he was sent by the team on to the field of play to pass on a message to the two batsmen. He was found guilty of violating Article 2.1.2, which deals with "conduct that brings the game into disrepute".
This was the first time either player had picked up a demerit point since the system came into effect on 22 September 2016.
On Saturday morning, both Shakib and Nurul pleaded guilty to the offences and accepted the sanctions proposed by match referee Chris Broad and, as such, there was no need for a formal hearing.
"Friday's incidents were disappointing as you don't want to see such player behavior during any level of cricket," Broad said in a statement. "I understand that it was a tense and an edge-of-the-seat match with place in the final on the line, but the actions of the two players were unacceptable and cannot be condoned as they clearly went overboard. Had the fourth umpire not stopped Shakib and the fielders remonstrating, and then the on-field umpires not intervened between Nurul and Thisara, things could have become worse."
The charges were levelled by on-field umpires Raveendra Wimalasiri and Ruchira Palliyaguruge, third umpire Ranmore Martinesz and fourth umpire Lyndon Hannibal.