Afghanistan batter Afsar Zazai has been given an official reprimand for breaching level one of the ICC Code of Conduct in the recently concluded one-off Test match against Bangladesh in Abu Dhabi.
Zazai was found to have breached Article 2.4 of the ICC Code of Conduct for Players and Player Support Personnel, which relates to “Disobeying an Umpire’s instruction during an International Match.”
In addition to the reprimand, one demerit point has been added to Zazai’s disciplinary record, for whom it was the first offence in a 24-month period.
The incident took place when Zazai, who was carrying out 12th man duties, ignored multiple instructions of the on-field umpires not to enter the field of play and to stop wasting time. Following this, in the 139th over, he again entered the field of play without the permission of on-field umpires.
Zazai admitted the offence and accepted the sanction proposed by Dave Gilbert of the Emirates ICC International Panel of Match Referees and, as such, there was no need for a formal hearing.
On-field umpires Ahsan Raza and Allahuddien Paleker, third umpire Asif Yaqoob and fourth umpire, Izatullah Safi 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.
