CODE OF CONDUCT BREACHES

Shahzad suspended for two matches after Code of Conduct breach

by Cricbuzz Staff • Published on

Shahzad struck his bat hard on the pitch next to the main wicket after being dismissed by Tendai Chatara of Zimbabwe. © Getty

Mohammad Shahzad, the Afghanistan wicketkeeper-batsman, will miss the next two matches of the World Cup Qualifiers following his misdemeanour in the recent game against Zimbabwe. Shahzad was found guilty of breaching ICC's Code of Conduct-Article 2.1.8, which deals with "abuse of cricket equipment or clothing, ground equipment or fixtures and fittings during an international match." He was fined 15 per cent of his match fee along with one demerit point, which extended his demerit points tally to four within a 24-month period, thus amounting to his suspension.

During the match against Zimbabwe, which Afghanistan lost by a narrow margin of two runs, Shahzad struck his bat hard on the pitch next to the main wicket after being dismissed by Tendai Chatara in the ninth over. Such was the force with which he hit the bat on the track that it "left a significant divot on the turf," stated an ICC release on Wednesday (March 7). There was no need for a formal hearing as Shahzad admitted his wrongdoing and accepted the sanction proposed by match referee David Jukes.

In December 2016, Shahzad was fined 100 per cent of his match fee and handed three demerit points in the match against UAE in which he was found guilty of "inappropriate and deliberate physical contact with a player." The additional demerit point which was handed after the game against Zimbabwe took him to the threshold of four demerit points, subsequently converted into two suspension points. Two suspension points equate to a ban from one Test or two ODIs or two T20Is, whichever comes first for the player. Accordingly, Shahzad will miss the matches against Hong Kong and Nepal on March 8 and 10 respectively.

Meanwhile, Zimbabwe's Brendan Taylor and Afghanistan's Mujeeb Zadran were also charged for their indiscretions during the same game. Taylor, who had shown dissent after umpire Chettithody Shamsuddin hada turned down a leg-before appeal, was fined 15 peer cent of his match fee and received one demerit point. The 16-year-old Mujeeb was charged with throwing the ball in a dangerous manner despite the batsman - Taylor - being in the crease. Mujeeb was fined 50 per cent of his match fee and was handed three demerit points.

Elsewhere, Hong Kong's Nizakat Khan was fined 50 per cent of his match fee and received three demerit points for breach of Article 2.2.7, which deals with "inappropriate and deliberate physical contact with a Player, Player Support Personnel or any other Person (including a spectator) in the course of play during an international match." According to the ICC, Nizakat, while taking a run, made an inappropriate and deliberate physical contact by using his shoulder against Scotland bowler Alasdair Evans.

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