ICC penalises Khurram Shahzad and Mohammad Abbas for Code of Conduct breach

Pakistan fast bowlers Khurram Shahzad and Mohammad Abbas have been penalised by the ICC for breaching Level 1 of the ICC Code of Conduct during the first match of the ICC World Test Championship series against the West Indies in Tarouba. Both players accepted the sanctions, meaning no formal hearings were required.

Why did the ICC penalise Khurram Shahzad and Mohammad Abbas?

The ICC penalised Khurram Shahzad and Mohammad Abbas for breaching Article 2.5 of its Code of Conduct, which covers language, actions or gestures that disparage or could provoke an aggressive reaction from a batter after dismissal. Both players also received one demerit point on their disciplinary records.

Khurram was fined 15 per cent of his match fee, while Abbas received an official reprimand for breaching Article 2.5 of the ICC Code of Conduct for Players and Player Support Personnel.

The charge relates to "using language, actions or gestures which disparage or which could provoke an aggressive reaction from a batter upon his or her dismissal during an International Match."

In addition to the sanctions, one demerit point has been added to each player's disciplinary record. Neither Khurram nor Abbas had committed a previous offence during the preceding 24-month period.

What actions led to the Code of Conduct breach?

Khurram was penalised for celebrating aggressively close to dismissed batter Shai Hope during the 17th over of the West Indies' second innings. The ICC ruled that his actions were capable of provoking an aggressive reaction.

Abbas was sanctioned after celebrating in an animated manner near dismissed batter Jomel Warrican, the final wicket of the innings. The ICC found that his celebration also fell within the scope of Article 2.5.

Both players admitted the offences and accepted the sanctions proposed by Jeff Crowe of the Emirates ICC Elite Panel of Match Referees. As a result, there was no need for formal hearings.

What is the penalty for a Level 1 ICC Code of Conduct breach?

The charges were levelled by on-field umpires Alex Wharf and Richard Kettleborough, along with third umpire Jayaraman Madanagopal.

Under the ICC Code of Conduct, Level 1 breaches carry a minimum penalty of an official reprimand and a maximum penalty of 50 per cent of a player's match fee. They can also result in one or two demerit points, depending on the severity of the offence.