Pakistan captain Sarfraz Ahmed has been slapped with a four-match suspension by the International Cricket Council (ICC) for his racial comment during the second ODI of the ongoing tour in South Africa.
During the second ODI of the series at Durban on last Tuesday (22 January), Sarfraz made a racial comment at the South African cricketer Andile Phehlukwayo, who later won the Player of the Match award for his all-round match-winning performances (4/22 & 69*).
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The cricket governing body has found that the Pakistan captain has breached the ICC’s Anti-Racism Code and he has been charged under its Article 2.1.1.
The Article 2.1.1 of ICC Anti-Racism Code claims, “Engaging in any conduct (whether through the use of language, gestures or otherwise) which is likely to offend, insult, humiliate, intimidate, threaten, disparage or vilify any reasonable person in the position of a Player, Player Support Personnel, Umpire, Match Referee, Umpire Support Personnel or any other person (including a spectator) on the basis of their race, religion, culture, colour, descent, national or ethnic origin.”
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In the result, Sarfraz has been suspended for four international matches. It means that the Pakistan captain is set to miss the last two ODIs (27 and 30 January) of the five-match ODI series in the ongoing South Africa tour and later, he will also miss the first two T20Is (1 and 3 February) of the three-match T20I series in the same tour.
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Also, according to Article 7.3 of the ICC Anti-Racism Code, Sarfraz will also face an educational programme “to promote the understanding and awareness of issues directly relevant to the offence that he has committed”.
Also read: Sarfraz Ahmed Issues Personal Apology To Andile Phehlukwayo
David Richardson, the ICC CEO said on this occasion, “The ICC has a zero-tolerance policy towards conduct of this nature. Sarfaraz has promptly admitted the offence, was regretful of his actions and has issued a public apology, so these factors were taken into account when determining an appropriate sanction.”
