Pakistan Captain Penalized for On-Field Outburst
Pakistan's batting maestro Babar Azam faced financial penalties on Tuesday after being found guilty of breaching the International Cricket Council's code of conduct during the third ODI against Sri Lanka. The star batter was fined 10 percent of his match fee for inappropriate behavior following his dismissal in the recently concluded match.
The Incident That Led to Fine
The controversial moment occurred during the 21st over of Pakistan's innings in the third ODI when Babar, frustrated after being dismissed, struck the stumps with his bat before leaving the crease. This action violated Article 2.2 of the ICC Code of Conduct, which specifically addresses "abuse of cricket equipment or clothing, ground equipment or fixtures and fittings during an International Match."
According to the ICC statement, this marked Babar's first disciplinary offence in 24 months, resulting in a demerit point being added to his previously clean record. The Pakistan captain had scored 34 runs off 52 balls before being dismissed by Sri Lankan bowler Jeffrey Vandersay.
Series Performance Overshadows Controversy
Despite the disciplinary action, Babar's overall performance in the series remained impressive. Pakistan completed a comprehensive 3-0 series sweep against Sri Lanka, securing a clinical six-wicket victory in the final match with 32 balls to spare.
Babar played a pivotal role throughout the series, amassing 165 runs - the highest individual tally in the series. His performance included a record-breaking 20th ODI century that ended a significant drought of 807 days and 83 international innings without reaching three figures. The century came during the ODI series in Rawalpindi last week, marking a triumphant return to form for the prolific batsman.
The ICC's decision to fine Babar demonstrates the governing body's commitment to maintaining discipline and sportsmanship in international cricket, even when involving high-profile players. The incident serves as a reminder that all players are subject to the same standards of conduct regardless of their stature in the game.
