RAWALPINDI: Pakistan’s prominent batter Babar Azam has been fined 10 per cent of his match fee for a minor breach of the ICC Code of Conduct during the third One-Day International (ODI) against Sri Lanka, the International Cricket Council said on Monday. The sanction came after Pakistan sealed a 3-0 clean sweep over the visitors with a six-wicket win at the Rawalpindi Cricket Stadium on Sunday.
According to the ICC, Babar committed a Level 1 offence under Article 2.2 of the Code of Conduct, which deals with “abuse of cricket equipment or clothing, ground equipment or fixtures and fittings during an international match”. Such offences carry penalties ranging from an official reprimand to a deduction of up to 50 per cent of a player’s match fee, along with potential demerit points.
The incident took place in the 21st over of Pakistan’s innings when Babar, visibly frustrated after his dismissal for 34 off 52 balls, struck the stumps with his bat before leaving the field. He had been bowled by Sri Lankan spinner Jeffery Vandersay at a stage when Pakistan appeared to be struggling to stabilise their chase.
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Match officials — on-field umpires Alex Wharf and Rashid Riaz, third umpire Sharfuddoula Ibne Shahid and fourth umpire Faisal Afridi — reported the offence, while Ali Naqvi of the Emirates ICC International Panel of Match Referees imposed the sanction. The former Pakistan captain accepted the charge and the penalty, eliminating the need for a formal hearing. One demerit point has also been added to his disciplinary record, his first within a 24-month period.
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Despite the moment of frustration, Pakistan went on to comfortably secure victory in the match and the series. A dominant bowling performance had restricted Sri Lanka to a modest total earlier in the day, setting up a relatively straightforward run chase for the hosts. Though the top order stuttered, Pakistan eventually crossed the finish line with six wickets in hand, completing a commanding whitewash over the visitors.
Babar, who has been central to Pakistan’s batting lineup across formats, rarely finds himself involved in disciplinary issues, making Sunday’s incident a noteworthy exception. The ICC’s Level 1 breaches are considered the least severe, and the swift acceptance of the penalty is expected to put the matter to rest.
With the series concluded, Pakistan will now shift its focus to upcoming international commitments, while Sri Lanka will look to reassess its performance after a challenging tour marked by batting inconsistencies and lack of penetration with the ball.
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