Pakistan pulled off a remarkable chase against South Africa in Karachi on Wednesday, securing victory with one over to spare. Mohammad Rizwan and Salman Agha were the stars of the show, scoring 122 and 134, respectively, as Pakistan successfully hunted down a massive 353-run target. However, the match wasn’t just about the thrilling run chase—it also drew attention for on-field aggression from some Pakistan players.
During South Africa’s innings, Shaheen Afridi, Saud Shakeel, and substitute fielder Kamran Ghulam were involved in incidents that caught the ICC’s eye. The governing body has since penalized all three for violating the ICC Code of Conduct.
“ICC has imposed fines on the three players for breaching Level 1 of the ICC Code of Conduct during their tri-nation series match against South Africa in Karachi,” the ICC stated in an official release.
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Afridi was fined 25% of his match fee for breaching Article 2.12, which deals with inappropriate physical contact. The incident occurred in the 28th over when he deliberately obstructed South African batter Matthew Breetzke while he was attempting a single. The move led to physical contact between the two and a heated exchange.
After ‘Shameless’ Act, ICC Punishes Afridi And Co. For Doing This To SA https://t.co/L37bC5J9RU pic.twitter.com/e7zyHm2dSD
— CricketNDTV (@CricketNDTV) February 13, 2025
Meanwhile, Saud Shakeel and Kamran Ghulam were fined 10% of their match fees for celebrating too aggressively after Temba Bavuma’s run-out in the 29th over. Their actions were deemed in violation of Article 2.5, which prohibits gestures or language that could provoke an aggressive reaction from a dismissed batter.
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In addition to financial penalties, all three players received one demerit point each. As none had prior offences in the last 24 months, no formal hearings were required. The players have accepted the sanctions, putting the controversy to rest.
While Pakistan’s victory was a statement ahead of upcoming challenges, the team will need to be mindful of on-field conduct to avoid further disciplinary setbacks in crucial matches.
