The International Cricket Council (ICC) has imposed a financial penalty on Pakistan opening batter Fakhar Zaman for violating the ICC Code of Conduct during the recently concluded second Test match against Bangladesh. The sanction relates to an on-field incident that occurred on the fourth day of the match in Chattogram.
The Incident and the Charge
Fakhar Zaman was found to have breached Article 2.3 of the ICC Code of Conduct for Players and Player Support Personnel. This article pertains to "use of an audible obscenity during an International Match." The charge was leveled by the on-field umpires, Richard Illingworth and Paul Reiffel, along with third umpire Masudur Rahman and fourth umpire Gazi Sohel.
The specific incident took place on December 4, 2024, which was the fourth day of the Test match at the Zahur Ahmed Chowdhury Stadium. According to the ICC release, Zaman used inappropriate language that was clearly picked up by the stump microphone, leading to the formal charge.
Acceptance and Sanction
Fakhar Zaman admitted to the offence and accepted the sanction proposed by match referee Andy Pycroft. This meant a formal hearing was not required. For a Level 1 breach of this nature, the minimum sanction is an official reprimand and a maximum penalty is a fine of 50% of the player's match fee.
The match referee, Andy Pycroft, decided on a penalty of 15% of Zaman's match fee. Additionally, one demerit point has been added to Zaman's disciplinary record. This was the first offence for the Pakistani opener in a 24-month period concerning the Code of Conduct.
Context of the Match and Aftermath
The second Test, where this incident occurred, ended in a thrilling draw. Pakistan, set a target of 355 runs, finished their second innings at 304 for 7. Fakhar Zaman himself had a challenging match with the bat, scoring 17 runs in the first innings and 2 runs in the second innings before being dismissed.
The series concluded with a 1-0 victory for Pakistan, who had won the first Test in Sylhet by a significant margin. While the team secured a series win, this fine serves as a reminder of the high standards of conduct expected by the ICC in international cricket. On-field discipline remains a critical focus for players and officials alike, with the governing body consistently taking action against breaches to maintain the spirit of the game.
