Bangladesh player Taskin Ahmed and Zimbabwe fast bowler Blessing Muzarabani have both been fined 15 percent of their match fees for breaching Level 1 of the ICC Code of Conduct during the second day of the one-off Test in Harare, ICC confirmed Friday.
They were found to have breached Article 2.1.12 of the ICC Code of Conduct for Players and Player Support Personnel, which relates to “inappropriate physical contact with a Player, Player Support Personnel, Umpire, Match Referee or any other person (including a spectator) during an International Match.”
In addition to this, one demerit point each has been added to the disciplinary records of the players, both of whom did not have any previous offence in a 24-month period.
The incident occurred in the 85th over of Bangladesh’s first innings on Thursday. After Muzarabani had bowled a delivery to Taskin, the two players moved aggressively towards each other, and contact was made after words were exchanged face to face.
Both players admitted the offence and accepted the sanctions proposed by Andy Pycroft of the Emirates ICC Elite Panel of Match Referees and ratified by the ICC Cricket Operations department as per the COVID-19 interim playing regulations. There was no need for formal hearings.
On-field umpires Marais Erasmus and Langton Rusere, third umpire Iknow Chabi and fourth official Forster Mutizwa levelled the charges.
Level 1 breaches carry a minimum penalty of an official reprimand, a maximum penalty of 50 per cent of a player’s match fee, and one or two demerit points.
Meanwhile, Bangladesh are leading by 237 runs in this Test at the end of the third day’s game. Bangladesh batted first and posted 468 in the first innings riding on an unbeaten 150 of Mahmudullah Riyad, 95 of Liton Das, 75 of Taskin and 70 of Mominul Haque.
In reply, Zimbabwe tumbled for 276 as Mehidy Hasan Miraz bagged five wickets and Shakib Al Hasan took four. Bangladesh started the second innings and at the end of day three, they were at 45 without losing any wicket.
Source: United News of Bangladesh